PECO and Exelon Replace Annual Diversity Celebration with Day of Volunteer Service and $65,000 in Donations, Saturday, Nov. 14

During tough economic conditions, PECO and Exelon’s employee network groups decided they should forego their annual “diversity gala” held during the holiday season.

Instead, more than 150 employees will spend part of their Saturday, Nov. 14, volunteering at local food banks and a suburban children’s shelter. Additionally, PECO and Exelon Generation will contribute a total of $65,000 to non-profit groups in Philadelphia and three suburban counties that help those in need.

Philabundance, the region’s largest food bank and hunger relief organization, will receive a $25,000 PECO contribution on Saturday. Company employees will help pack holiday food boxes between 9 a.m. and Noon and 1 and 4 p.m. at the agency located at 302 West Berks St., Philadelphia. Note: Check Presentation will be done at 1:30 p.m.

MANNA, 2323 Ranstead St. Philadelphia, will receive $10,000, and a group of 40 company volunteers will help bake pies or prepare nutritious meals for terminally-ill homebound city residents (between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.)

Note: PECO President & CEO Denis O’Brien will join the company volunteers at MANNA and present the company donation at 10:30 a.m.

Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, 302 N. 13th St., Philadelphia, will receive $5,000, and volunteers will help serve breakfast (7 a.m. to 8 a.m.) and dinner (6 p.m. to 7 p.m.) on Saturday.

Veterans United, 15th & Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia, will receive $5,000, and volunteers will distribute food between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

City Team Ministries, 634 Sproul Street, Chester, will receive $5,000, and volunteers will help prepare, serve and pack food for those in need (between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.).

Chester County Food Bank, 356 West Main St., Parkesburg, will receive $10,000, and volunteers will help prepare Thanksgiving bags for its mobile good pantry (between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.).

Christ’s Home for Children, 800 North York Rd., Warminster, will receive $5,000, and volunteers will read to the children (10 a.m. to Noon).

“We are proud of the decision our employees have made to devote a day to volunteer service. As we approach Thanksgiving, we are delighted to shift attention away from our own celebrations and give some of our time and resources to help others and the wonderful, dedicated organizations that serve those most in need,” said O’Brien.

PECO’s special day of volunteer service is an extension of the company’s Energy in the Community program, which facilitates employee volunteerism and leadership support with hundreds of non-profit organizations throughout the Greater Philadelphia region.

Based in Philadelphia, PECO is an electric and natural gas utility subsidiary of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC). PECO serves 1.6 million electric and 485,000 natural gas customers in southeastern Pennsylvania and employs about 2,400 people in the region. PECO delivered 83.7 billion cubic feet of natural gas and 39.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2008. Founded in 1881, PECO is one of the Greater Philadelphia Region's most active corporate citizens, providing leadership, volunteer and financial support to numerous arts and culture, education, environmental, economic development and community programs and organizations.