Dec. 07, 2009

PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland General Electric employees set a new record during the company’s annual Employee Giving Campaign this year, raising more than $1.62 million (including PGE’s 50 percent match) for community organizations.

“This year’s campaign was especially important to our employees who are seeing their neighbors and communities struggling in the tough economy,” said Dave Robertson, vice president of public policy, PGE. “It’s great to see everyone in the PGE family come together and raise a record-breaking amount to support their favorite charities and nonprofits. This year’s program speaks volumes about employees’ dedication to their communities.”

The 2009 PGE Employee Giving Campaign totals $1,622,600, with 58 percent of employees participating to benefit 922 nonprofits and schools. PGE’s percentage of participation nearly doubles the national employee giving average of 35 percent. This year’s campaign beat last year’s record of $1,593,619.

Always popular with employees, Oregon Food Bank topped the list of recipients in 2009 with donations of almost $90,000, which is enough for OFB to move 450,000 pounds of food to network agencies — enough to fill 10 semitrailers.

“Once again, the generosity of PGE employees and retirees has gone above and beyond for their neighbors in need,” said Rachel Bristol, CEO of Oregon Food Bank. “Not only do some PGE employees volunteer every month at the food bank, they also give financial contributions. This support comes at a critical time with the OFB Network of regional food banks distributing record amounts of emergency food.”

In addition to donations, PGE employees volunteered more than 1,250 hours at Oregon Food Bank in 2009.

During the annual Employee Giving Campaign, PGE’s 2,700 employees and more than 1,000 retirees can designate any charitable nonprofit or accredited school to receive their pledges, and PGE matches their contributions by 50 percent.

Since the company match program began in 1998, PGE and its employees and retirees have contributed more than $12 million to their communities through the campaign.

For 2009, top local recipients include:

• Oregon Food Bank, Inc.
• Providence Medical Foundation — Providence Cancer Center
• Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation
• Oregon Burn Center
• Oregon Public Broadcasting
• Oregon HEAT
• SOLV
• Work for Art Fund
• Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International
• Oregon Humane Society
• United Way (Portland, Columbia, and Umatilla & Morrow counties)Black United Fund of Oregon, Inc.

In addition to making monetary donations to their favorite organizations, PGE employees and retirees also give freely of their personal time. During 2009 alone, PGE volunteers are expected log almost 50,000 volunteer hours with their favorite nonprofit organizations.