Employees of Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation and shareholders of CH Energy Group, Inc. donated $413,000 toward local not-for-profit agencies and organizations that provide human services and small business support to Hudson Valley residents and communities during 2010.

“Central Hudson employees feel strongly about supporting community service organizations, and together with our company and its shareholders demonstrate their philanthropy each year in several ways,” said Corporate Secretary and Vice President of Corporate Communications Denise D. VanBuren, who administers the utility’s community relations activities. She said community support takes several forms.

Employee contributions to community agencies are matched by Central Hudson’s Employee Matching Gift program, which debuted in 2005. “This program allows Central Hudson to support organizations with which our employees are involved, and to spread our contributions throughout the communities we serve,” said VanBuren.

Central Hudson will match employee gifts made to eligible 501(c)(3) organizations that provide services within the utility’s eight-county service territory of up to $500 per employee annually. In addition, employee contributions made to the Community Fund of the United Way during the annual campaign are also matched. In 2010, nearly $373,000 in employee contributions and matching shareholder funds was raised in support of local agencies and programs.

Central Hudson also matches customer contributions, up to $40,000 per year, to the Good Neighbor Fund, a last-resort grant toward utility bills for families and individual facing financial hardship though a program administered by the local corps of the Salvation Army.

In addition to these $413,000 in employee and shareholder donations, Central Hudson also extended $226,000 in 2010 to local agencies and business groups by sponsorship of community events that raise awareness, promote the local economy and support non-profit programs.

“Our local service organizations work to improve our quality of life and protect the health and well-being of our region,” said VanBuren. “As a community we are interdependent, and Central Hudson and our employees recognize that we must all do our part to support one another.” Since 2005, Central Hudson and its employees and shareholders have together provided more than $4.1 million in donations and sponsorships to local agencies and organizations.

“In addition to financial support, it’s equally important that our employees volunteer their time and talents to so many worthwhile causes here in the Hudson Valley,” said VanBuren. “Central Hudson employees donate thousands of hours every year to make our region a better place to live and work.”

Eligible agencies can find more information on Central Hudson’s Employee Matching Gift Fund by visiting www.CentralHudson.com; click on About Us, Community Involvement, and Employee Matching Gift Program. Log on to also learn more about the Good Neighbor Fund and to contribute to the Salvation Army by donating to Central Hudson’s Online Red Kettle.

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