A three-year pledge from Bruce Power will double the United Way of Bruce-Grey's utility assistance program and enhance food security measures.
The Bruce Power Campaign Team says it's committed to increasing proceeds to meet the $1.6-million pledge, and provide funding stability to the United Way programs.
The campaign will get underway late in March, and will include employees, unions, suppliers and the company.
United Way Executive Director Francesca Dobbyn says the timing of this news couldn't be better for families and individuals struggling to pay their bills in the region.
"As part of this community, there is more we can do together and providing this commitment now to double the utility assistance program is the right thing to do."says Mike Rencheck, Bruce Power's president and CEO.
Bruce Power has been a long-time supporter of the United Way, and the company and its employees have donated more than $3 million to the United Way of Bruce Grey since 2001.
"From our perspective, we wanted the United Way to know what they can count on from us to do their important work, and the Bruce Power United Way Campaign will deliver on the fundraising," says Larry Alderdice, of the Power Workers' Union. "We recognize that if everyone got their electricity from the Bruce Power site, the cost of electricity would be much less, but that's not the world we operate in and we all have to step-up and help where we can."
Plans have been underway since September to enhance the Bruce Power campaign and to provide an increased focus on the utility assistance program and food security.