In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E) and OGE Energy Corp. Foundation teamed up to support Mental Health Association Oklahoma (MHAOK). The foundation donated $10,000 to MHAOK toward the organization’s street outreach and supportive housing programs while OG&E provided nearly $70,000 in weatherization services to improve energy efficiency and increase financial savings of the housing units owned and operated by the MHAOK.

“We are grateful to OG&E for this donation and the support, respite and assistance it will provide to those in our community impacted by homelessness and experiencing mental illness,” said Terri White, MHAOK Chief Executive Officer. “It’s thanks to community partners like OG&E that allow us to further our mission of transforming the mental health and livelihoods of those in our state who need our help the most.”

The recent donation from OG&E will support the organization’s street outreach program and housing support services to individuals experiencing homelessness and mental illness.

“As we advocate for and raise awareness about the importance of mental health, OG&E recognizes that safe, reliable and affordable housing is a critical component in ensuring a person's overall mental wellness,” said Lindsay Laird, OG&E Manager of Community Outreach & Engagement. “In addition to our financial donation, OG&E provided MHAOK with weatherization services for its housing facilities, resulting in valuable savings and increased energy efficiency. We are grateful to partner with like-minded organizations like MHAOK that support some of our community’s most vulnerable members and offer life-sustaining and life-enhancing solutions.”

This isn’t the first time OG&E and MHAOK have teamed up. Last year, OGE Energy Corp. Foundation and OG&E provided a donation to MHAOK in support of its mission, and volunteers from the electric company packaged 950 kits for the association’s street outreach initiative.

As the state’s premiere mental health nonprofit, MHAOK works every day to advocate for mental wellness, end homelessness and transform the justice system. In addition to its mental health support and street outreach program, MHAOK offers other comprehensive services including community health and wellness initiatives, employee readiness programs and criminal justice advocacy.

Empowering neighbors who need a hand is an integral part of OG&E’s service-based culture. The electric company supports hundreds of local and regional nonprofits that meet the many needs its customers face through financial and in-kind donations, volunteering and active outreach. Supporting impactful organizations like MHAOK is just one of the ways OG&E energizes the communities it serves. To read more about OG&E’s dedication to community stewardship, visit oge.com/communitystewardship.

MHAOK is the state’s premier boots-on-the-ground non-profit serving at the intersection of mental illness and homelessness – fighting every day to promote mental health, prevent suicide and end homelessness.

OG&E, a subsidiary of OGE Energy Corp., provides our customers in Oklahoma and western Arkansas with the safe, reliable electricity needed to power their businesses and homes with some of the nation's lowest electric rates. We are committed to generating and delivering electricity, protecting the environment, and providing excellent service to approximately 900,000 customers. Our employees live, work, and volunteer in the communities we serve. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.