MAYS LANDING, N.J. - Atlantic City Electric (ACE) contributes to the communities it serves through more than charitable giving. Each day, its employees practice proper safety, accountability, diversity and excellence in the workplace. Many dedicated employees transfer these practices to their communities through volunteerism and community outreach.

Atlantic City Electric's Volunteer Initiative Program encourages employee participation in community volunteer activities. Each year, dozens of ACE employees donate tens of thousands of hours of their personal time to help support local organizations, community events and volunteer initiatives.

When Rachel Born of Mays Landing leaves work at Atlantic City Electric's Drafting and Design Department, she uses her skills as a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, a uniformed, volunteer organization governed by the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security. Its mission is to provide trained crews to augment the Coast Guard, enhance safety of our ports and waterways and to promote recreational boating safety and training.

"We are responsible for patrolling the waterways to make sure boaters are following safety procedures and to help ensure public safety, especially during large events like Atlantic City's air shows and Ocean City's Night in Venice," Born said. "I enjoy the Coast Guard Auxiliary because I know that I am providing a service. There is a lot of camaraderie and I like the educational opportunities. I've met people from all walks of life that I wouldn't have met otherwise."

Alita Corbett of Atlantic City Customer and Community Relationship manager, Atlantic City Electric, attends community events to educate customers on programs available through ACE and energy assistance programs available through the state.

"Many customers are unaware that a number of programs in New Jersey can help them pay their utility bills," Corbett said. "We strive to find new ways to help customers learn about these programs. We visit churches, senior centers and attend local conferences to get the message out. We answer questions and concerns and also assist customers through the application process." 

Corbett sits on a number of local and national boards including the National Energy and Utility Affordability Coalition (NEUAC) and is chairperson of the NJ SHARES Board of Trustees.

Marcus Fortune of Bridgeton uses mapping technology to create maps in the company's Drafting and Design Department. These maps are a vital part of the company's process when it's planning to upgrade or build new a substation or power distribution system.

In the five years he has worked for Atlantic City Electric, Fortune has participated in a number of volunteer activities including helping Habitat for Humanity build homes in Atlantic City, assisting in collecting items for the "Toys for Tots" toy drive, delivering food to the Community Food Bank of New Jersey and joining fellow employees in cleaning local beaches as part of the Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps.

Fortune says his goal is to be a volunteer pioneer within his own community.

"One of the things I enjoy most about volunteering is helping others understand how meaningful it can be and inspiring others to do the same," he said. "I want to be a role model for my son and show him that it's important to make the effort to help others and participate in worthwhile causes through volunteerism."

Ronnie Town of Marmora senior public affairs manager, Atlantic City Electric, has represented the company within her community for the past 30 years. She began her career working in the Customer Service Department and since 1998 has been a member of the Government Affairs team serving Cape May County.

Town works with many local organizations and represents the company at various functions including community events and chamber of commerce meetings. 

Town is involved with many volunteer and fundraising events throughout the year that benefit organizations including the ALS Association, American Heart Association, Special Olympics and United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

She serves on the boards of the Southern Shore Chapter of the American Red Cross, Cape May County Chamber of Commerce and the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce.

For information about Atlantic City Electric volunteer initiatives and its commitment to southern New Jersey, visit atlanticcityelectric.com/community-commitment. 

For additional information about Atlantic City Electric, visit www.atlanticcityelectric.com. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/atlanticcityelectric and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/acelecconnect. Our mobile app is available at www.atlanticcityelectric.com/mobileapp.