More Than 120 Consumers Energy Summer Interns Jump Into Community Service Across Michigan With Annual Intern Challenge

JACKSON, Mich., Aug. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 120 Consumers Energy interns this summer continued a tradition of giving back to the community, carrying out 28 community service projects that helped a food bank, Habitat for Humanity, a shelter for victims of abuse, and more.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130815/DE64415 )

Consumers Energy's Intern Challenge is a competition that challenges interns to develop creative solutions to needs in the communities the company serves. Interns formed 18 teams that worked on projects outside the office in Jackson, Kalamazoo, Midland, Macomb County, and other locations.

"I'm constantly surprised by the ingenuity and creativity these young people demonstrate in developing ideas and following them," said Carolyn Bloodworth, director of corporate giving for Consumers Energy. "They test their skills as a team and see the value of giving back to the community."

The interns' projects included the following:

• One group built a nesting box for peregrine falcons that will be placed near the stack of the Karn/Weadock power plant, north of Bay City.
• A team of two interns volunteered at a shelter for domestic abuse victims in Midland, Cooking and serving a meal of Mexican food to about 50 residents and shelter staff.
• Interns participated in seven projects for Habitat for Humanity around the state. Tasks including building a home, tearing a house down and making repairs to a home whose owner could not do the work on her own.
• One team taught environmental lessons and planted a garden with summer students at a Jackson school.
• Interns talked about Consumers Energy programs and played bingo, and handed out gift certificates to seniors at local senior fairs and a center in Macomb County.

Interns' efforts have led to short-term benefits and to lasting good for nonprofit organizations all over Michigan. Consumers Energy plans to sponsor another Challenge next summer.

"Our Promise is to care for the communities we serve," Bloodworth said. "The Intern Challenge is a phenomenal way to help build that commitment, and we expect it to continue."

Consumers Energy, Michigan's largest utility, is the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), providing natural gas and electricity to 6.6 million of the state's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information regarding Consumers Energy, visit us at: www.consumersenergy.com  or join us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/consumersenergymichigan 

Media toolkit

AUDIO: Carolyn Bloodworth, director of corporate giving, talks about the Intern Challenge: https://soundcloud.com/consumers-energy/2013-intern-challenge

NEWS COVERAGE: Jackson Citizen Patriot story about interns painting Jackson's King Center: www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2013/07/consumers_energy_interns_volun.html

SOURCE Consumers Energy