JACKSON, Mich., Feb. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy employees are taking action to help Michigan residents stay warm this winter by walking by the hundreds in Walk for Warmth events across the state.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140219/DE67400 )
Consumers Energy is making the commitment to helping people heat their homes by donating $2 for every dollar that employees, family and friends raise by volunteering in Walk for Warmth events. Last year, the company and employees raised $112,000.
"As part of our Promise to care for the communities we serve, Consumers Energy employees are taking part in 34 walks this year," said Patti Poppe, Consumers Energy's vice president of customer experience, rates and regulation. "Every dollar we raise will go toward helping our most vulnerable neighbors, including those who are elderly and disabled, and those who can't afford to pay their heating bills."
Consumers Energy is partnering with local Community Action Agencies statewide to sponsor Walk for Warmth events. The money that participants raise will provide energy assistance for Michigan residents – a priority for Consumers Energy in this extremely cold winter.
"This is the coldest winter in a generation, and people are using more natural gas to stay warm. In response, we've launched our 'Beat the Freeze' campaign to help people use less energy and to provide resources to manage their bills," Poppe said. "We encourage anyone in the communities we serve to join us at Walk for Warmth events and help their neighbors."
Hundreds of Consumers Energy employees will take part Friday in the Walk for Warmth event in Jackson, which will start inside the company's headquarters and extend through downtown. Registration will start at 11 a.m., with the walk to follow at noon.
Many more employees will bolster Walk for Warmth events Saturday at 24 locations throughout Michigan, including Flint, Grand Rapids, Lansing and Saginaw. All Walk for Warmth events are open to the public.
Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.
MEDIA TOOLKIT
WALK FOR WARMTH: For a full list of walks, dates and times: www.ConsumersEnergy.com/walkforwarmth.
BEAT THE FREEZE: Consumers Energy is helping Michigan residents with this winter's energy bills. People should call 800-477-5050 for bill payment assistance, or learn more at www.ConsumersEnergy.com/energyanswers.
For more information regarding Consumers Energy, go to: www.ConsumersEnergy.com or join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan
SOURCE Consumers Energy