More Than 70 Summer Interns Practice Community Service as Unique Part of Consumers Energy Program

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Aug 21, 2012, 06:00 ET

JACKSON, Mich., Aug. 21, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- When asked: "What did you do this summer?" more than 70 interns at Consumers Energy's statewide facilities can answer "community service" in addition to learning about jobs in the energy business.

Service to others is a unique part of Consumers Energy's summer intern program. Interns this summer helped 14 nonprofits spread throughout Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Community service projects included work on 5 homes through Habitat for Humanity or other groups; gathering box-loads of food and personal care items for use at homeless shelters, women's shelters and food pantries; serving meals; developing interactive games for children; collecting donations to purchase items for homeless youth and other materials; and supporting technology upgrades.

Intern teams supported the following charities:

Kalamazoo Valley Habitat for Humanity (Kalamazoo); A Brush with Kindness (Grand Haven); AWARE Inc. (Jackson); Salvation Army (Jackson); Nonprofit Network (Jackson); Greater Jackson Habitat for Humanity (Jackson); Mel Trotter Ministries (Grand Rapids); Junior Achievement of the Michigan Edge (Jackson); Salvation Army (Lansing); Interfaith Shelter (Jackson); Saginaw Habitat for Humanity (Saginaw); Westland Parks & Recreation Department (Westland).

Interns worked this summer learning about jobs at the utility's electric generating plants, natural gas system, customer service operations, engineering, accounting, communications, business technology services, marketing and other areas.

The intern class is enrolled at 15 colleges, primarily in Michigan. These include: Ferris State University, the University of Michigan, Central Michigan University, Michigan State University, Grand Valley State University, Western Michigan University, Michigan Technological University, Eastern Michigan University, Kettering University, Lawrence Technological University, Cooley Law School, Alma College, Jackson Community College, Grand Rapids Community College and Baker College.

"Consumers Energy is pleased to make community service a key part of our summer internship program. We believe in giving back as part of our promise to Michigan and the communities we serve, particularly during this year when we're celebrating our 125^th anniversary," said Carolyn Bloodworth, Director of Corporate Giving.

"The Consumers Energy interns were an invaluable asset to AWARE, Inc. this summer," said Kathryn Snyder, Fund Development program coordinator for AWARE, Inc. "Due to their specialized talents and support, our shelter's survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault now have a functioning computer with a new hard drive, many basic needs items that were lacking, a new microwave, and the staff's computers are now running better than ever. Consumers Energy's intern challenge has been a huge benefit to AWARE, Inc. and the Jackson community as a whole."

AWARE also found much needed support from the marketing interns for its upcoming fundraiser "Lights, Camera, Auction," Snyder added. The interns organized and spearheaded a direct marketing outreach campaign for the fundraiser by contacting 115 local businesses for their support and auction items.

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at www.consumersenergy.com

SOURCE Consumers Energy