Avangrid Foundation Partners with Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity to Advance Workforce Development and Affordable Home Ownership

The Foundation supports hands-on learning in the skilled trades for students in the Greater Rochester region

GENEVA, N.Y., August 19, 2026--The Avangrid Foundation, the philanthropic arm of leading energy company Avangrid Inc., a member of the Iberdrola Group, hosted a site tour last week of the Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity 2026 Youth Build Program. Held at a Habitat for Humanity home under construction on Katherine Street in Geneva, the event showcased how the Youth Build Program provides local students with hands-on experience in the skilled trades while helping construct a future home for a local family.

"The future workforce is shaped by hands-on learning experiences like the Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity's Youth Build Program," said Avangrid CEO Jose Antonio Miranda. "This partnership provides students with practical skills, exposure to career pathways in the trades, and the opportunity to contribute to a project that will make a meaningful difference for a local family."

"By supporting Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity's Youth Build Program, the Avangrid Foundation is helping local students gain valuable skills while expanding access to affordable housing for families in Geneva," said Pablo Colón, Director of Corporate Citizenship and Executive Director of the Avangrid Foundation. "When organizations come together around a shared purpose, we can create opportunities that strengthen communities, open doors for young people, and help families build a brighter future."

Through support from the Avangrid Foundation, five students participated in the nine-week summer program, gaining valuable experience in residential construction, workplace safety, teamwork, and building trades. In addition to creating career pathways for young people, the program supported Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity's mission of expanding access to safe, affordable homeownership opportunities.

"My experience with Habitat for Humanity has been one of the most uniquely hands-on and transformational experiences that I've participated in. My experience so far has consisted of not just learning, but performing many new skills crucial to the fields of carpentry and construction. I have learned how to create houses with accuracy and how to properly communicate with others on a job site. This alone would have been extremely valuable in my future career, but above that, I have been able to learn from a great community. Between our mentors (Roman and Jared), the other interns, and many consistent volunteers, I have greatly appreciated and learned from the very supportive community at Habitat for Humanity. My experience has been deeply educational and I would wholeheartedly recommend others to pursue this internship in future years if given the chance," said student intern Emmet Crawley.