Avangrid Foundation Grants $400K to Wildlife Rehab Groups

The Avangrid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Avangrid Inc., a leading energy company and a proud member of the Iberdrola Group, has announced a record-breaking $400,000 in grants to 19 wildlife rehabilitation organizations across the United States. This funding, the largest awarded in the program’s nine-year history, reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to conservation, biodiversity, and environmental stewardship. Since the inception of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Program, the Avangrid Foundation has donated more than $1 million in grants, directly supporting organizations dedicated to the protection, rehabilitation, and conservation of wildlife across the country.

A Commitment to Conservation

Pedro Azagra, CEO of Avangrid, emphasized the company’s role as a driver of positive change, stating, “Avangrid and the Avangrid Foundation are a force for good in the communities we serve. From delivering reliable energy to millions of people to supporting vital environmental initiatives, we take our commitment to sustainability seriously. Through the efforts of the Avangrid Foundation, we are creating a brighter future not only for people but also for the wildlife that shares our world.”

This year’s grant recipients span across 12 states from coast to coast, highlighting Avangrid’s nationwide impact. The funding will support both new and returning grant recipients, with five organizations joining the program for the first time. These funds will be used to enhance operational capacities, expand outreach efforts, and improve public awareness about wildlife resources within the service areas of the Avangrid family of companies. This approach ensures that conservation and education go hand in hand, empowering communities with the knowledge they need to contribute to wildlife protection.

Supporting Biodiversity Across the Nation

“Biodiversity is one of the core areas of focus at the Avangrid Foundation,” said Pablo Colón, Director of Corporate Citizenship and Executive Director of the Avangrid Foundation. “The grantees in this year’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Program are providing crucial medical care to injured and orphaned wildlife, as well as educating the public about the importance of wildlife conservation. I’m thrilled to see how much this program has grown over the years, and I look forward to witnessing the impact these organizations will have—not only on wildlife but also on the communities that surround them.”

The grants will fund a variety of projects, ranging from the rehabilitation of raptors and marine mammals to the enhancement of veterinary facilities and the development of conservation education programs. Below is a closer look at how each recipient plans to use its funding:

Grantees and Their Projects:

Beardsley Zoo (Connecticut): The zoo will upgrade and expand its veterinary equipment to improve wildlife care, enhancing the health and well-being of over 350 animals in its care.
Center For Wildlife (Maine): Funding will go toward medical supplies, husbandry, and personal protective equipment (PPE) to support the center’s medical clinic operations.
Hawks Aloft (New Mexico): The grant will assist in the construction of a full-service raptor rehabilitation medical facility, improving treatment for injured birds of prey.
Liberty Wildlife (Arizona): Funds will be allocated for the construction of additional flight enclosures, helping raptors regain strength before their return to the wild.
Marine Mammals of Maine (Maine): This grant will support triage and rehabilitation efforts for seals and other marine mammals rescued along the coastline.
Mass Audubon (Massachusetts): The organization will expand its hands-on nature and wildlife education programs for local students, fostering a deeper understanding of conservation.
National Marine Life Center (Massachusetts): Funds will be used to support the rehabilitation of sea turtles and seals, ensuring that marine wildlife has a fighting chance at survival.
Ojai Raptor Center (California): The center will use its funding to repair and improve its Freedom Flight project, a vital space that allows large raptors to rebuild their strength before release.
Orange County Bird of Prey Center (California): The grant will support the “Fly Like an Eagle” project, a pre-release conditioning enclosure designed to help recovering raptors practice flight maneuvers before returning to the wild.
Pennsylvania Bat Rescue (Pennsylvania): The funding will cover medical and veterinary expenses for injured and orphaned bats, which play a crucial role in local ecosystems.
Possumwood Acres Wildlife Sanctuary (North Carolina): The grant will be used to combat the decline of indigenous bat populations through both rehabilitation and educational outreach efforts.
Red Creek Wildlife Center (Pennsylvania): A portion of the funds will be used to install a backup generator, ensuring that wildlife in care receives uninterrupted support even in the event of power outages.
Rowena Wildlife Clinic (Oregon): The clinic will use its funding to provide a specialized, high-protein diet for raptors and insectivores, improving their rehabilitation outcomes.
Saving Our Avian Resources (SOAR) (Iowa): The organization will acquire a safe transportation vehicle, ensuring the secure rescue and release of wildlife across the region.
Sharon Audubon (Connecticut): Funding will support the expansion of its Chimney Swift rehabilitation program and provide an immersive internship opportunity for an early-career conservationist.
University of California, Davis (California): The university will use its grant to support veterinary training programs focused on raptor care and rehabilitation.
Whispering Willow Wildcare (New York): The grant will help rebuild an aviary that was destroyed when a tree fell on it during a storm, restoring an essential facility for bird rehabilitation.
Wild Wings Inc. (New York): The funds will enable the organization to provide free educational programming to students in the Rochester area, fostering a love for wildlife among the next generation.
Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island (Rhode Island): Funding will go toward a new rehabilitation enclosure designed specifically for otters, sea birds, beavers, minks, and muskrats, allowing for more specialized care of these animals.

A Lasting Impact

Organizations like the Orange County Bird of Prey Center, a first-time grant recipient, are already looking forward to the impact these funds will have. “We’re very excited to enter this partnership with Avangrid,” said Dan Goldbacher, Executive Director of the center. “The Avangrid Foundation’s commitment to conservation and biodiversity will help us build something we’ve long dreamed of—a pre-release conditioning enclosure that will allow our recovering raptors to practice the wide banked turns they need to build up their muscles before heading back to the wild. A flight mew like the one we’re planning will allow us to help even more birds from across Southern California as we work to ensure a healthy population of raptors for future generations.”

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