Equitable Gas Company Announces Fueling Your Day With Love Campaign to Benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Pittsburgh

PITTSBURGH, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its efforts to improve the well-being of children in western Pennsylvania and the communities it serves, Equitable Gas Company announced today the second Fueling Your Day With Love Campaign. 

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090908/NE71771LOGO )

The campaign is an exciting partnership with Pittsburgh area McDonald's® restaurants designed to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Pittsburgh.  Now through April 30, 2012, when customers purchase a cup of McDonald's Premium Roast Drip Coffee at neighborhood McDonald's restaurants, Equitable Gas will donate two cents to RMHC of Pittsburgh.

Professional hockey player Matt Cooke, an enthusiastic volunteer for RMHC of Pittsburgh, is serving as spokesman for the campaign.  Since Cooke wears number 24 while playing hockey, it inspired the goal for the fundraiser: If western Pennsylvania McDonald's customers purchase 1.2 million cups of Premium Roast Drip Coffee between now and April 30^th, Equitable Gas will donate $24,000 to RMHC of Pittsburgh.

The 2011 Fueling Your Day With Love Campaign raised $17,000 for RMHC of Pittsburgh.

"Equitable Gas is proud to once again partner with our neighborhood McDonald's restaurants to support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh," said Bill Lucas, President of Equitable Gas Company.  "When customers buy their daily cup of McDonald's coffee they receive a double reward – a delicious hot cup of coffee to fuel their day, and the knowledge they are helping a family and sick child in need."

Ronald McDonald House provides temporary housing to families who have traveled to the Pittsburgh area seeking life-saving medical care for their children.  Ronald McDonald House provides a "home away from home" during one of the most difficult times in a family's life. By providing the necessities of home, Ronald McDonald House helps families focus solely on the well-being of their sick children.     

"We're extremely appreciative of Equitable Gas Company and Matt Cooke," said Eleanor Reigel, Executive Director of RMHC of Pittsburgh.  "With their generosity, Ronald McDonald House will be able to provide more families facing tremendous challenges with lodging and love."

Equitable Gas Company is a provider of safe and dependable natural gas service to approximately 275,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers located mainly in the city of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.  Its customer base also includes more than 200 municipalities in nine other counties in western Pennsylvania, 12 counties in central and northern West Virginia, and nine counties in eastern Kentucky.  Additional information about Equitable Gas can be obtained through its Web site at www.equitablegas.com.

Known as the House That Love Built, RMHC of Pittsburgh is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Since its founding in 1979, RMHC has provided a home away from home for almost 14,000 families of seriously ill children receiving life-saving medical treatment in area hospitals. For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh, call 412.362.3400 or visit http://www.rmhcpgh.org.

McDonald's USA, LLC, is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to more than 26 million customers every day. Nearly 90 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local businessmen and women. Customers can now log online for free at any of the 11,500 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants. For more information, visit www.McDToday.com.

SOURCE Equitable Gas Company, LLC