Duquesne Light Company is donating $10,000 to the Dollar Energy Fund after just one day of action through its Power It Forward campaign. Launched on November 18, 2016, the Company matched every social media engagement captured on its channels over a 24-hour period with a $5 donation on behalf of its customers. Dollar Energy Fund provides utility assistance grants to limited-income families and individuals in the region, which are of particular need during the cold winter months.
“The goal of this campaign was to start a groundswell of good deeds throughout the city of Pittsburgh and act on our Larger than Light brand promise in an unexpected way,” said Jessica Rock, Director of Communications, at Duquesne Light Company. “We’re thrilled to see the community pay-it-forward and are humbled by the tremendous response. We couldn’t have imagined a better way to kick off the holiday season.”
As a formal announcement of the campaign, Duquesne Light Company held a ceremonial lighting of its 80-foot holiday tree at Point State Park. A local military veteran and her family from Penn Hills were selected by the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania to switch on the spectacular display of lights. In 2016, Duquesne Light and its approximately 1,500 employees raised nearly $600,000 for United Way and its beneficiaries.
To show gratitude and encourage Pittsburghers to Power It Forward, Duquesne Light deployed volunteers on the streets of Pittsburgh on Friday, November 19, 2016, to distribute more than 500 cups of free coffee and hot chocolate to commuters, and others who truly power the City forward.
In addition, Duquesne Light provided electrical and construction support for Energy Flow, a unique art installation on one of Pittsburgh’s most iconic landmarks, the Rachel Carson Bridge. The installation, which was officially unveiled Friday evening, combines light and wind energy to create a temporary display on the bridge.
To learn more about Power It Forward, visit www.duquesnelight.com or Duquesne Light’s Facebook and Twitter pages.