United Way
Whether volunteering time to participate in "Care Days", serving on the board of directors, or contributing monetarily, Western Kentucky Energy (WKE) is a proud supporter of the United Way of the Ohio Valley. WKE employees volunteer their time to serve on United Way Campaign Committees in five counties. They participate in United Way "Care Days" by volunteering time to work on various projects for United Way agencies.

The corporate campaign continues to grow annually. The 2003-2004 United Way Campaign reached a record-breaking level of giving. Over $71,000 was pledged by the employees of Western Kentucky Energy, resulting in a total campaign pledge of over $143,000, after the corporate match.

For WKE employees, giving to the United Way is one of the best way to help the most people in the surrounding communities.



Volunteer and Information Center
WKE employees are active volunteers for projects sponsored by the Henderson Volunteer and Information Center. The Center serves as a clearinghouse to supply services to underprivileged citizens in the area.

Western Kentucky Energy's Henderson office assisted the Henderson Volunteer and Information Center by distributing frozen chickens to nonprofit agencies. The chickens were donated by Tyson Foods and will be used to feed many homeless and needy persons in Henderson, Union, Webster and Hopkins Counties.



Habitat for Humanity
A Western Kentucky family is in a new home thanks in large part to the efforts of employee volunteers from Western Kentucky Energy (WKE) and funding from the E.ON U.S. Foundation.

More than 40 employees spent months working on the home at Yosemite Drive in Owensboro under the direction of representatives from the Owensboro-Daviess County chapter of Habitat for Humanity. The home's owners worked hand-in-hand with WKE employees as part of their commitment to "sweat equity." The house was dedicated and the owners moved in immediately thereafter.

"It took an enormous amount of work and dedication, but it's worth it to see a deserving family fulfill their dream of home ownership," said Jim Garrett, one of the leaders on the project. "Something like this is so rewarding because you can actually see your efforts making a difference board by board."

Habitat for Humanity International is an international organization dedicated to eliminating poverty housing. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner families. Habitat houses are sold to these families at no profit, and financed with affordable, no-interest loans. Homeowners invest hundreds of hours of their own labor — called "sweat equity" — into building their Habitat house and the houses of others.



Christmas Friends Program
Playing Santa and delivering gifts and food to the underprivileged are just parts of the Christmas Friends Program. Many hours of planning by employees from Western Kentucky Energy's generating facility in Hawesville, Kentucky make this program successful year after year for the less fortunate.

Various fundraisers are conducted throughout the year with the proceeds going to the Christmas Friends Program. Christmas gifts and dinners are delivered by WKE employees to several families who would not otherwise have a holiday celebration.



Newspaper in Education
Newspaper in Education is a program that provides newspapers to teachers for use in their classrooms throughout area school systems. Western Kentucky Energy (WKE) supports this program because of the belief that it fosters and improves reading in a society where hundreds upon hundreds of citizens are still functionally illiterate.

WKE is excited about participating in the process of building leaders of tomorrow in business, government, and service organizations through the Newspaper in Education Program.