Consumers Energy, Habitat for Humanity Celebrate World Habitat Day with Commitment to Safe, Affordable Housing

Consumers Energy Foundation Gives $200,000 to Neighborhood Initiative

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Oct 06, 2015, 06:00 ET

JACKSON, Mich., Oct. 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy and Habitat for Humanity of Michigan celebrated World Habitat Day this week, making a joint commitment to providing safe and affordable housing to residents across Michigan.

The Consumers Energy Foundation is contributing $200,000 to Habitat's Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative. In addition, Consumers Energy's Helping Neighbors program has worked to provide energy-efficient upgrades to legacy Habitat homes, making home ownership more affordable.

"It is an honor for us to play a role in supporting Habitat's mission. Housing is the foundation for stable Michigan communities," said Cathy Reynolds, Consumers Energy's senior vice president and general counsel, who presented the $200,000 contribution to Habitat officials in Jackson on Monday. "Our Promise to care for the Michigan communities we serve includes building on our already-strong relationship with this great organization."

"We are grateful for Consumers Energy's continued commitment to our work, as we strive to deliver solutions for more Michigan families each year," said Sandy Pearson, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Michigan. "On World Habitat Day, it's fitting that we recognize good work and always look to do more to provide safe, affordable housing to our state's residents."

Consumers Energy and its foundation have provided $800,000 in contributions to Habitat for Humanity of Michigan since 2001.

The company foundation's $200,000 contribution will support an initiative that seeks to increase the number of families living in safe, decent, affordable housing; create additional volunteer opportunities; foster engagement with current and potential sponsors; and develop cooperative relationships within the community. The company also funded the Home Run for Habitat fundraising campaign this year.

Consumers Energy's relationship with Habitat goes beyond dollars. More than 350 employees have volunteered this year in company-sponsored Habitat projects across the state. Several company employees also sit on the leadership boards of Habitat affiliates.

The Helping Neighbors program provides energy efficiency upgrades to residents of Habitat legacy homes in the Great Lakes Bay region, and now is expanding its reach to residents of Genesee, Kalamazoo, Oakland, Ingham and Jackson counties. Measures have been installed to increase energy efficiency, including attic insulation, CFL and LED bulbs, and more.

"Every day, we see the impact that Habitat for Humanity makes on communities and lives across our state, and we are honored to play a role in supporting Habitat's mission," Reynolds said. "Stronger neighborhoods are safer neighborhoods. Home by home, we know we can build a brighter future for families and for our entire state."

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Consumers Energy. It provides funding for a variety of areas including education, community, civic and cultural development, social services, the environment, and emerging issues.

Habitat for Humanity believes that every man, woman and child should have a safe, decent and affordable home. To make this possible, Habitat for Humanity of Michigan partners with the Habitat for Humanity affiliates throughout the state to assist them to reach their maximum sustainable capacity within their individual communities by supporting the further development of their leadership, procedures and resources.

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com.

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HELPING NEIGHBORS: Learn more about Consumers Energy's Helping Neighbors program:
www.consumershelpingneighbors.com

HABITAT: Learn more about Habitat for Humanity of Michigan:
www.habitatmichigan.org

SOURCE Consumers Energy