Consumers Energy's Support for Early Childhood Programs to Increase Substantially in 2010

JACKSON, Mich., May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy announced today that it will sharply increase its support for early childhood programs in Michigan to $330,000, an increase of about 70 percent.  Last year the company provided $195,000 in grants for early childhood programs.  

The grants come from a donor-advised fund established by Consumers Energy's parent company, CMS Energy, and held by the United Way of Jackson County.

"It's increasingly clear that support for early childhood programs – promoting reading, social skills and ready-to-learn activities – is one of the best investments we can make for Michigan's future," said David G. Mengebier, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation.  "Michigan is where we live, work and raise our families.  We want to make a positive difference in the communities where we serve."

In 2010, Consumers Energy will make the following grants from its donor-advised fund to support the following early childhood programs:

• $15,000 to Ingham Birth to Five Great Start Collaborative for childcare scholarships
• $10,000 to Ingham Birth to Five Great Start Collaborative for the Eaton County Imagination Library and Clinton County Imagination Library
• $10,000 to Hillsdale County Great Start Collaborative for Imagination Library
• $25,000 to Hillsdale County Great Start Collaborative for childcare scholarships
• $35,000 to Great Start Collaborative of Jackson County and WKAR-TV of East Lansing for a parent education program in Jackson and Hillsdale counties.
• $25,000 to Traverse Bay/Manistee Great Start Collaborative for a pilot childcare scholarship program
• $10,000 to Lenawee Community Foundation for the launch of Imagination Library in Lenawee County
• $15,000 to Tuscola Intermediate School District for Tuscola County Imagination Library
• $50,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Jackson County
• $30,000 to Great Start Collaborative of Jackson County for the Imagination Library
• $30,000 to Great Start Collaborative of Jackson County for community matching funds for the Imagination Library
• $15,000 to Great Start Collaborative of Jackson County for a data assessment to measure effectiveness of early childhood programs
• $60,000 to Child Care Network for childcare scholarships in Jackson County.

The Consumers Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Consumers Energy.  It provides funding for a variety of areas including education, community and civic development, culture and the arts, social services, the environment, and emerging issues.   For more information about the Consumers Energy Foundation and its support of America's Promise, visit our website at www.consumersenergy.com/foundation.

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 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