Experienced philanthropy leader to help advance Foundation's strategic community investment priorities
AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) today announced that Don Rettig has been named Vice President and FirstEnergy Foundation President.
In this role, Rettig will lead the Foundation's philanthropic strategy and oversee charitable investments that support communities across FirstEnergy's operational area. He will work closely with company leaders and organizations to advance the Foundation's charitable giving priorities. He will report to Wade Smith, President, FirstEnergy Utilities.
Wade Smith, President, FirstEnergy Utilities: "The Foundation is one of the ways we give back and make a difference beyond the work we do every day. Don has spent his career bringing companies and communities together and knows that doing this work well means understanding community needs, building relationships and being disciplined about where we focus our resources."
Since 2001, the FirstEnergy Foundation has donated nearly $140 million to nonprofit organizations across the company's operational area. In 2026, the Foundation sharpened its focus on four charitable giving priorities that reflect community needs and FirstEnergy's strategic focus: housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development and STEM education.
That focused approach has led to significantly increased support in several priority areas. In 2026, the Foundation invested $5 million in Hunger Action Month grants, doubling support from 2025. It also increased funding for its Shelter, Safety and Stability initiative to $500,000 this year, five times its 2025 investment. Nearly $6.5 million in community support has been distributed across FirstEnergy's operational area so far in 2026.
Rettig joins FirstEnergy from Owens Corning, where he served as director of community affairs and president of the Owens Corning Foundation. He led the company's global community affairs and philanthropic strategy, increasing corporate contributions and helping expand the foundation's impact across 20 countries.
Before joining Owens Corning in 2011, Rettig spent 14 years with Metroparks Toledo, where he held several leadership roles, including executive director.
Rettig holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and a Master of Public Administration from Bowling Green State University. He currently serves as a trustee of the Greater Toledo Community Foundation and has held leadership roles with several nonprofit organizations.
Editor's Note: A professional photo of Don Rettig is available for download on Flickr.
About FirstEnergy Foundation
The FirstEnergy Foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations across FirstEnergy's operational area, helping them build capacity, strengthen outcomes and deliver lasting impact. Giving priorities include housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development and STEM initiatives that reflect community needs and the company's strategic focus. Combined with the Hunger Action Month grants, the Foundation has distributed nearly $6.5 million in community support across FirstEnergy's operational area to date in 2026.
About FirstEnergy
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at firstenergycorp.com.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
