‘Pillar’ for P.A.D.S.
Morris’ Hayworth earns Exelon merit award for service
CHICAGO — Exelon Corporation has recognized employee Michael Hayworth of Morris with a merit award for his volunteer service with Grundy Area Public Action to Deliver Sustenance (P.A.D.S.). The volunteer recognition is part of the company’s annual Energy for the Community Volunteer Awards and comes with a $5,000 cash grant to the organization in Hayworth’s honor.
Hayworth, who is employed as a senior emergency preparedness specialist at Exelon Nuclear, has volunteered with Grundy Area P.A.D.S. for three years. He volunteers on the overnight shift once a week at one of the organization’s Morris locations, working with local residents who come to the facility in need of shelter and food.
“Michael comes to this volunteer work with boundless energy; volunteering for the overnight shift is a very special level of commitment,” said Todd C. Thomson, president of Grundy Area P.A.D.S. “He’s a pillar of strength and friendship to our guests when they need both. We’re so proud to have him on our team.”
During his three years of service, Hayworth has become an indispensable asset to the P.A.D.S. staff by preparing food, offering transportation and providing friendship — at all hours — to those in need. Hayworth has become a reliable and constant source of comfort in the lives of the Grundy County residents who use Grundy Area P.A.D.S.
The $5,000 cash grant from Exelon will be used by the organization to purchase additional mattresses, pillows and other items required for overnight sheltering.
“While my family and I are blessed to have a roof over our head and food in the refrigerator, there are others who don’t have those same comforts,” said Hayworth. “I am honored to be a volunteer with Grundy Area P.A.D.S. and to be able to extend my hand to everyone I’ve met.”
Christopher M. Crane, Exelon president and CEO, presented Hayworth the award in Chicago on Tuesday, May 8.
“Employee volunteers like Michael bring Exelon’s corporate citizenship values to life in the communities where we work and serve,” said Steve Solomon, vice president of corporate relations at Exelon. “I congratulate him and all of our employee volunteers who continue to find the time to demonstrate our strong commitment to community service.”
Exelon introduced the Energy for the Community Volunteer Awards in 2007 to honor employees who demonstrate exceptional commitment to community service and to encourage increased volunteerism among employees. Hayworth is one of 12 employees who received volunteer awards and grant donations for the nonprofit organizations they serve. Exelon donated a total of $100,000 in cash grants to those nonprofits this year.
Exelon’s Energy for the Community Volunteer Awards were open to all eligible employees from the Exelon family of companies who volunteered at least 50 hours of community service in 2011. Last year, more than 2,400 Exelon employee volunteers gave nearly 62,000 hours of their time to community nonprofit organizations. The donated hours are equivalent to 1,550 workweeks or nearly 30 years of full-time service.
The awards are part of Exelon’s Energy for the Community corporate citizenship program, which encourages volunteerism to support environmental stewardship; education, arts and culture; neighborhood enhancement; and diversity in the communities it serves.