FirstEnergy appoints Don Rettig as Foundation President

FirstEnergy Corp. has appointed Don Rettig as its new vice president and president of the FirstEnergy Foundation. In his new capacity, Rettig is responsible for managing the organization’s philanthropic strategy and charitable contributions across the company’s multi-state operational region. He will report to Wade Smith, president of FirstEnergy Utilities.

Rettig joins the company from Owens Corning, where he served as the director of community affairs and president of the Owens Corning Foundation. His professional background also includes 14 years in leadership roles with Metroparks Toledo. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Bowling Green State University.

FirstEnergy’s philanthropic arm has recently sharpened its focus on four key areas: housing stability, hunger relief, workforce development, and STEM education. By mid-2026, the foundation had distributed nearly $6.5 million in support, including significant increases in grants directed toward hunger relief and shelter initiatives compared to the previous year.