NEWS RELEASE
Date November 16, 2017
For Release Upon Receipt
Contacts Ashlee Yingling
412.430.3404
DUQUESNE LIGHT COMPANY CHALLENGES CUSTOMERS TO HELP RAISE $15,000 FOR DOLLAR ENERGY FUND
24-hour Campaign Matches Every Social Media Engagement and Text with a $5 Donation
PITTSBURGH – Duquesne Light Company (DLC) is bringing its Larger than Light mentality to life again this holiday season through a series of goodwill-inspired initiatives, including challenging Pittsburghers to help raise $15,000 for the Dollar Energy Fund in a single day. Every dollar donated by a customer either through a social media engagement or text donation will be matched by DLC as part of its Power It Forward program designed to inspire holiday kindness and reciprocal goodwill among those in the community.
Raising $15,000 can support nearly 50 local families in need of utility assistance this winter. The 24-hour fundraiser begins at 12:00 am Friday, November 17 and concludes at 11:59 pm the same day. For every social media engagement on DLC’s Facebook page or Twitter channel during the 24-hour period, DLC will donate $5 to Dollar Energy Fund in an effort to raise up to $15K in donations, which will help nearly 50 families pay their utility bills this winter.
Any of the following actions will result in a donation over the 24-hour time period:
- “Like” Duquesne Light Company on Facebook, and engage with campaign posts: facebook.com/DuquesneLight
- Follow @DuquesneLight on Twitter, and engage with campaign Tweets: twitter.com/DuquesneLight
- Use DLC’s custom Snapchat filter, geo-targeted at key locations during Comcast Light Up Night, including Point State Park, Ft. Duquesne Blvd., Market Square, PPG Plaza and Gateway Center, City-County Building, Andy Warhol Bridge and U.S. Steel Tower
- Utilize the campaign hashtag, #PowerItForward, on Facebook or Twitter
Along with engaging on social media, Pittsburghers can #PowerItForward by texting POWER to 50555 to donate $5 directly to Dollar Energy Fund. Message and data rates may apply. Full terms: www.mGive.org/T.
“Duquesne Light has been an active member in our communities for more than a century,” said Rich Riazzi, President and CEO of Duquesne Light Company. “Serving our customers in Allegheny and Beaver County, both on the job and through charitable donations and volunteerism, is an important part of our company values. The Power It Forward initiative gives our customers an opportunity to join us in powering the community and encourages giving this holiday season.”
In addition to the 24-hour fundraiser, DLC is powering the 2017 holiday season by lighting up two of our city’s most recognized landmarks.
Thursday, November 16 at 5:30 pm
Ceremonial Lighting of Tree at Point State Park
At 5:30 p.m. tonight, Duquesne Light’s Tree of Lights located near the fountain at Point State Park will be lit by a local family from the Garfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The family was selected by the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to lead the ceremonial tree lighting. DLC, and its approximately 1,500 employees, have raised nearly $600,000 in 2017 for the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to help the agency continue its efforts to provide assistance to individuals and families in our community.
Friday, November 17 at 5:30 pm
City-County Building New Decorative Lighting Reveal
Brightening the holiday season and beyond, DLC has partnered with the City of Pittsburgh by providing $150,000 for new lighting to commemorate the centennial of the City-County Building. The building’s front exterior is now outfitted with 34 permanent, programmable LED light fixtures that have the capability to showcase a unique array of color schemes in differing time intervals all year-round.
The first City-County Building tree lighting ceremony took place in 1915, two years prior to the building opening in December 1917. Today, 100 years later, DLC’s President and CEO Richard Riazzi will join Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh in a ceremony to light the building’s exterior and official City-County holiday tree lighting on Friday, November 17 at 5 p.m.
Additional Holiday Activities
Duquesne Light also partnered with the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy to illuminate 14 trees in the recently restored Mellon Square Park as part of the company’s efforts to brighten the holiday season.
Don’t miss out on your chance to #PowerItForward this holiday season. Visit www.duquesnelight.com or Duquesne Light’s Facebook and Twitter pages to learn more.
About Duquesne Light Company
Duquesne Light Company is committed to more than keeping the lights on; it powers the moments in its customers’ lives. As a next generation energy company, Duquesne Light Company’s nearly 1,500 employees are dedicated to delivering reliable and safe energy to more than a half a million customers in southwestern Pennsylvania.
About United Way of Southwestern PA
United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, serving Allegheny, Westmoreland, Fayette and Southern Armstrong counties, leads and mobilizes the caring power of individuals, the business community and organizations to help local people in need measurably improve their lives. United Way creates long-lasting change for the betterment of our community.
About Dollar Energy Fund
Dollar Energy Fund is a 501 (c) 3 organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for households experiencing hardships by providing utility assistance and other services that lead to self-sufficiency. For more than 33 years, we’ve served the limited-income community by providing $134 million in utility assistance grants to more than 480,000 limited-income families and individuals.
###