Tennessee Valley Authority
TVA Provides $10,000 Gift to Memphis Utility Assistance Program
November 22, 2011
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Authority has provided a $10,000 gift to the Plus-1 program in Memphis to help pay utility bills for local residents impacted by a recent emergency.
Plus-1 is a partnership between the Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association and Memphis Light Gas & Water that offers one-time assistance in paying utility services for people in a crisis. The program is not a source of on-going assistance.
"We recognize how an unexpected turn of events can put good people in a tough financial situation,” said Laura Campbell, TVA’s general manager of Customer Service in West Tennessee. “Plus-1 is a great way to help these families get back on their feet. It’s a program we strongly support.”
MLGW customers fund Plus-1 through one-time donations or by adding a dollar or more to their utility bills each month. Since its inception in 1982, Plus-1 has provided millions of dollars in assistance to families in crisis in Memphis and Shelby County.
“We thank TVA for this generous gift and also thank our customers and employees for their monthly support,” said Jerry Collins, MLGW president and chief executive officer. “This program is a lifesaver for many local residents, and these contributions are greatly appreciated.”
“We continue to see dramatic increases in requests for utility assistance,” said Sally Jones Heinz, executive director of MIFA. “The need is driven not only by extreme weather conditions but also by high unemployment in our community. TVA’s gift will allow us to offer help to many families.”
For more information on the Plus-1 program, visit: http://www.plus1memphis.org/
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.
Media Contact
Mike Bradley, Knoxville, (865) 632-7453
Media Relations, Knoxville (865) 632-6000
