CHICAGO, April 16, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- From Peru to the Philippines, Mexico to Montreal, Spain to South Africa, more than 220,000 runners have laced up their running shoes to help make a positive impact through the Energizer Night Race for a Brighter World. The power and light company is picking up the pace with the first North American race this year in Chicago. As participants race at night, with the light of an Energizer_® headlight to guide them, they unite to raise awareness for the global need for safe, affordable solar light for the 1.3 billion people in the world living without electricity.¹ In honor of the 2014 race series, Energizer is pledging to donate an unprecedented 14 million hours of solar light through their work with the international nonprofit One Million Lights.

On Saturday, June 7, 2014 at Lake Shore East Park, runners can participate in a 5K race or a 2.6K kids' fun run. All participants will receive an Energizer_® LED headlight to pave the way for the run. There will also be pre- and post-race celebrations with family-friendly activities, concessions and live entertainment. More race-day information, including registration details, is available at www.energizernightrace.com.

"Solar light has the power to make a dramatic impact on the life of a family living without electricity," said Anna Sidana, founder of One Million Lights. "Many rural families spend up to half of their income on kerosene lighting² that is not only expensive, but harmful to a family's health³ and to the environment⁴. Solar lights are clean and renewable, and they allow a person to work, study and play longer each day, helping to enhance a family's overall quality of life."

The mission of One Million Lights is to improve the daily lives of children and adults by replacing kerosene lamps with safe, rechargeable solar lights through their international distribution programs. One Million Lights and Energizer work together to distribute the Energizer solar lights to communities in need around the world, including donations in Latin America, the Philippines, Indonesia, Tanzania and Kenya. Since its first year, 26 countries have hosted more than 60 races around the world. The program represents the company's commitment to both performance and responsibility through the Energizer global communication "that's positivenergy_™" platform.

"The Energizer Night Race for a Brighter World is a great example of our 'that's positivenergy_™' philosophy," said Brad Harrison, vice president of marketing, Energizer North America. "The runners depend on the high-quality performance of Energizer_® headlights to light their path and, through our work with One Million Lights, their footsteps translate into millions of hours of solar light donated to families without electricity around the world."

Harrison continued: "We know the Chicago running community is very passionate and this race is a great opportunity for local runners, and their friends and families, to raise awareness for this important issue."

More information about the 2014 Energizer Night Race for a Brighter World in Chicago can be found at www.energizernightrace.com.

About Energizer
Energizer Holdings, Inc., headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, is a consumer goods company operating globally in the broad categories of personal care and household products. Energizer's Household Products Division offers consumers the broadest range of portable power solutions, anchored by our universally recognized Energizer_® and Eveready_® brands.

About One Million Lights
One Million Lights is a registered nonprofit with a mission to improve the daily lives of children and adults by providing clean and healthy solar lighting. Its goal is to distribute one million solar lights and replace dangerous and polluting kerosene lamps in communities where people are dependent on nonrenewable and toxic fuels for their lighting needs.

One Million Lights provides clean, safe, affordable solar lighting to rural communities around the world through its international distribution programs, made possible by partnerships and donations. These solar lights enable children to study at night and adults to extend their workday, all while eliminating carbon emissions, improving household health, and greatly increasing income savings. 

For more information on One Million Lights, please visit www.onemillionlights.org, www.facebook.com/onemillionlights and http://twitter.com/millionlights.

¹ 2011 World Energy Outlook, International Energy Agency
² United Nations Development Program (UNDP), www.undp.org 
³ Christian Science Monitor, www.csmonitor.com 
⁴ Alternatives to fuel-based lighting in rural areas: lbl.gov, Evan Mills (2006), http://evanmills.lbl.gov/presentations/fuel_based_lightinggrocc.pdf
Mills (2005), Mills (2010), United States Environmental Protection Agency (2010), Radecksy (2009), www.epa.gov

SOURCE Energizer Holdings, Inc.