“Families United Network Inc. is dedicated to strengthening families by providing children and youth with a safe, nurturing community environment through a continuum of services that focus on reunification or permanency,” a press release from the organization said.

14,000 children are currently in the state foster care system, with 750 of them under the care of Families United Network, according to Reverend George Scott, who offered prayer at the event.

“That’s roughly 5% of the population in our commonwealth. That’s a tremendous impact, not just on this community, but upon the whole state,” he said.

“We’re very excited about this new measure,” Ron Simon, CEO of Families United Network, said. “By reducing expenses, we will have more money to put into our programs for children and their families.

James Ross, Chairman of the Board, Ashler Inc, flips the ceremonial switch on the new solar array at the Families United Campus in Muncy. The new array will reduce the annual electrical cost for the campus which equates to about 16,000-20,000 a year. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

The project began with a dream, James Ross, founder of Families United Network and chair of the Ashler Board said.

“I actually had a dream about solar power and decided, ‘why don’t we look into that for this campus?’ Because we could reduce our own energy and save money, which means more dollars to serve children,” he said.

“Two years and a month from that dream, we now are connected, and I’m very pleased and proud that our organization has done that,” Ross said. “We hope to be an example to many more nonprofit organizations, as well as other community organizations.”

The project had no upfront costs to the organization, and is expected to save between $16,000 and $20,000 a year, according to Seth Berry, manager, Solar Renewable Energy LLC.

“It’s a win from a green aspect and also a financial aspect. It’s actually connected to the daycare facility and is expected to offset about 100% of all of their usage, maybe a little bit more than 100%,” Berry said.

“Any extra energy generated at the campus can be sold back to the power grid, benefiting others in our community,” a press release said.

“My first home was built in the 1930s and it had no insulation whatsoever, and I liken that to what we’re doing with the transition from fossil fuels to solar,” said Tom Newhart, president of the board of directors. “There’s a better way to do it, and I’m really proud to be part of the board and part of the effort to set an example for future generations of young adults.”

“Solar energy is increasing. In 2023, there was a 55% increase in solar capacity over the prior year, and I’ve read that it’s the cheapest source of energy and it’s the most abundant energy on the earth, so as an organization, we’re heading in the right direction,” he added.

This effect of the new power option goes way beyond just the renewable energy aspect, according to Dr. Nate Woods Jr., special assistant to the president for inclusion transformation at Pennsylvania College of Technology stressed in his address to attendees.

“This is not just flipping the switch for power. This is flipping a light switch for students to have an opportunity to get a better lifestyle and have a better opportunity for education,” he said.

Several local leaders attended the event, including Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter, who offered his congratulations.

“We know the importance of our youth having positive outlets, having places and people and mentors that they can look up to and just coming out of here feeling like they’ve accomplished something and been successful in being members of our community, that they themselves will be able to give back and mentor others who may be in similar situations,” Slaughter said.

“Families United is one of those organizations that gives back to people who are less fortunate than ourselves,” Lycoming County Commissioner Mark Mussina said.

“They do great work to help some people who just need a little bit of help and a little bit of guidance; guidance that we all got and kind of took for granted, that we realized that not everybody gets,” the commissioner said.