The holiday giving season is officially upon us and Baltimore
Gas and Electric Company (BGE) has kicked off its annual Gift
of Energy Program and the annual Fuel
Fund of Maryland envelope campaign. These two campaigns provide BGE
customers looking for ways to give back during the holidays with
opportunities to share the warmth of the season with those in need,
making the holidays brighter for families throughout central Maryland
who may be struggling financially. In December, BGE launches its giving
campaign to support the Fuel
Fund of Maryland, an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization,
through bge.com and via postage-paid envelopes enclosed in customers’
bills. This annual, customer-funded effort makes energy assistance
available to limited income customers who apply for assistance from the
Fuel Fund of Maryland, after exhausting other resources. BGE and its
customers also support households in need year-round by providing $1 in
bill credits for every $2 paid by Fuel Fund and its clients.
“Tis the season for giving and at BGE, we are grateful to both our
generous customers and our employees who have been longtime supporters
of the Fuel Fund of Maryland and many other worthwhile causes that
assist families in meeting their energy needs, especially during the
winter months,” said Carol Dodson, vice president and chief customer
officer for BGE. “Since the Fuel Fund was founded more than 30 years
ago, with seed money from BGE, it has helped thousands of individuals
and families stay warm in the winter and keep the lights on year-round.”
Through BGE’s Dollar
Donation Fund, customers are able to designate a modest donation to
the Fuel Fund and have it added to their BGE bill each month. When a
monthly bill is paid in full, BGE will forward the contribution directly
to the Fuel Fund. These donations are all tax-deductible and the Fuel
Fund will send customers a summary of their donations for their records
after the end of the year. Customers may stay enrolled for as long as
they wish, change their donation amount or withdraw from the program at
any time. To participate in the Dollar
Donation Fund visit bge.com to complete a simple form, or call BGE
at 800.685.0123. For more information visit the Fuel
Fund online.
“The generosity of BGE and BGE customers during the holiday season
provides tremendous hope to families struggling to emerge from a crisis,
seniors coping with medical costs, and our neighbors facing unemployment
and other economic challenges,” said Mary Ellen Vanni, Executive
Director of the Fuel Fund. “Families who receive help through the
envelope campaign and the Dollar Donation Fund are truly grateful for
the assistance. Contributions to the Fuel Fund may be tax-deductible and
the Fuel Fund’s 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator is testament to the
organization’s commitment to efficiency and sound management.”
Individuals may also consider helping a specific customer with their BGE
bill by donating through the Gift
of Energy program. Using a special form available on bge.com,
customers are able to make donations of any amount to the accounts of
specific customers. Donations will apply on a future bill as a credit to
the recipients’ BGE account. The recipient will be notified that they
have received a gift credit. The donors may also notify the recipients
or remain anonymous. The Gift
of Energy recipient can be any BGE customer and does not have to
qualify for energy assistance or any special programs. The Gift
of Energy form can be found on bge.com
and includes instructions on where to mail the special form and payment.
Customers can also place a Gift
of Energy order by calling BGE at 888.232.0088 (there is a $2.00 fee
from a third party for this service, and you must have the gift
recipient’s name and address).
For more information on contributing through the annual energy
assistance campaigns, visit bge.com/howtohelp.
BGE,
headquartered in Baltimore, is Maryland’s largest gas and electric
utility, delivering power to more than 1.2 million electric customers
and more than 655,000 natural gas customers in central Maryland. The
company’s approximately 3,400 employees are committed to the safe and
reliable delivery of gas and electricity, as well as enhanced energy
management, conservation, environmental stewardship and community
assistance. BGE is a subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the
nation’s leading competitive energy provider, with 2013 revenues of
approximately $24.9 billion. Like us on Facebook
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