When times are tough, the impact spreads through communities like ripples across a pond. Business and industry slow and retrench. Non-profit organizations and schools see budgets decline. Individuals feel the economic pinch in every facet of their lives; some even find it difficult if not impossible to meet basic needs like food, housing and health care.

A former AEP president wisely observed that the company “prospers only as the community prospers; so we help it thrive in every way we can...”

So AEP, its operating companies and the American Electric Power Foundation looked for innovative, important and immediate ways to help communities across our 11-state service territory thrive in 2010.

That’s not surprising, given our company’s long history of seeking to build strong communities.

While meeting basic human needs is critical, we recognize that education, the arts and the environment are also essential to the quality of life where our customers live and work.

That’s why AEP companies and the American Electric Power Foundation together provided more than $23.6 million to some 2,700 organizations to serve our communities in 2010.

And that’s why our employees rolled up their sleeves and volunteered for programs and initiatives too numerous to mention, but that included: helping poor or elderly homeowners through Rebuilding Together initiatives in Oklahoma and Ohio; participating in Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Light the Night walks in Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and Virginia; and collecting toys or funds for holiday toy drives for children in need in Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and West Virginia.

We’re proud that electricity brings comfort to our customers. And we’re proud to share the following sampling of ways that AEP, its operating companies and the AEP Foundation are building stronger communities.