Feel the Love Wisconsin

In 2018, Lennox, a leading provider of innovative home comfort solutions, launched a new corporate social responsibility program called, Feel The Love. The Feel The Love program, originally launched as Heat U.P. in 2009, engages Lennox dealers and employees to nominate deserving families in need with access to perfect indoor heating and air, at no cost including installation.

2019 Feel the Love Wisconsin Press Release

Old National Bank Foundation Awards $47,500 to Six Wisconsin Nonprofit Organizations

Madison, WI. (July 29, 2019) – Old National Bank Foundation, philanthropic arm of Old National Bank (NASDAQ: ONB) announced contributions totaling $47,500 to six Wisconsin organizations and an annual total of $1.9 Million footprint-wide, with some contributions being multi-year commitments. The Foundation awarded the following grants:

• 100 Black Men of Madison will receive $10,000 for Project SOAR (Student Opportunities, Access and Readiness).
• Asset Builders of America will receive $7,500 to support their Youth Power Financial Education Initiative. 
• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County will receive $7,500 to benefit High School & Beyond: College and Vocation program.
• Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity will receive $10,000 to assist 35 Low- to Moderate-Income families with the Affordable Homeownership and Repairs program.
• Movin Out Inc. was awarded $7,500 to support the Community Impact Program Pilot.
• United Performing Arts Fund will receive $5,000 for the La Casa de Esperanza Family Literacy Program.

“Old National Bank is focused on developing partnerships with organizations in our communities that are dedicated to leveraging funding opportunities that impact areas of greatest need.  We are proud to partner with nonprofit organizations like the six grant recipients to strengthen our communities through initiatives with meaningful impact,” said Kevin Anderson, Wisconsin Region CEO of Old National Bank.

“Through Old National’s charitable giving programs, the Foundation demonstrates its commitment to improve the quality of life in the communities where its clients, associates and shareholders live and work,” according to Janet Baas, Foundation President.  “Due to the volume of applications received, each application is evaluated on a competitive basis as we strive to fund programs with strong impact and measurable outcomes.  The Foundation’s primary focus areas are affordable housing, economic development, workforce development, financial literacy, and education programs.  Priority consideration is also giving to initiatives that serve low-to-moderate income individuals and households,” said Baas.  To learn more about the Foundation, please visit www.oldnational.com/giving.

About Old National

Old National Bancorp (NASDAQ: ONB), the holding company of Old National Bank, is the largest financial services holding company headquartered in Indiana. With $20.1 billion in assets, it ranks among the top 100 banking companies in the U.S.  Since its founding in Evansville in 1834, Old National Bank has focused on community banking by building long-term, highly valued partnerships with clients. Today, Old National’s footprint includes Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin. In addition to providing extensive services in retail and commercial banking, Old National offers comprehensive wealth management, investments, and capital market services. For more information and financial data, please visit Investor Relations at oldnational.com.             

###

Photo: Old National Bank Foundation Representatives Present Grant to 100 Black Men of Madison

Pictured Left to Right: Amos Anderson, Floyd Rose, Anthony Timmons of 100 Black Men of Madison, Andrea Finck & Kingsley Gobourne of Old National Bank.

Photo Credit: Paul McMahon, Heartland Images Photography

# # #

CONTACT:

Andrea Marquardt Finck – (608) 354-0893

Vice President, Community Relations

Janet Baas – (812) 464-1515

President, Old National Bank Foundation

Endres Mfg. Company Foundation Spring 2019 Grants

There are great stories and valuable work being done by nonprofits that have a positive impact on building better communities.  There are about 3,000 non-profit public agencies in Dane County, and about 270 private foundations.  There are so many paths for doing good!  The Endres Foundation received 36 grant requests, and have 5 agencies that are funded annually.  Two of those are an annual BIG sponsorship for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Dane County, and a long-standing partnership with Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission.  After discussion and review, the EMC Foundation is giving approximately $177,420.00  to 28 agencies in May.

Grants given during this spring cycle include:

The Beacon Homeless Shelter – Catholic Charities          $5,400
Big Brothers Big Sisters – annual BIG sponsorship           $1,000
Waunakee Boy Scout Troop 46 Eagle Projects                  $2,500
Capital City Theater – On the Town production                 $5,000
Centro Hispano Sostenme program – Hold Me Up             $10,000
DAIS Shelter                                                                             $5,000
Dane County Cultural Affairs Commission                         $15,000
Girl Scouts CampBUILD –  building trade skills                $10,000
Goodman Center – youth art classes                                   $2,000
Ice Age Trail Alliance Sauntering program                        $3,500
Independent Living – partnership program                      $5,000
Lakeview Lutheran Church – Phase 2 upgrades                $3,000
Madison Reading Project – books for kids                          $5,000
Madison Youth Arts Center – $100,000 pledge                   $33,000
Music Makers – music ed through Wi Youth Symphony   $15,000
PEBOGA – workshop and keynote series                            $2,500
RENEW Wisconsin –  energy video/website                       $5,200
RSVP of Dane County                                                             $1,200
Simpson Street Free Press – Wi history research              $5,000
Tri 4 Schools – for 4 Waunakee elementary schools         $5,000
Unity Point Health – youth mental health facility              $5,000
Vera Court Neighborhood – final pledge payment            $5,000
Waunakee “Mutts on Main” – artist stipend                        $1,350
Waunakee EMS – recognition monument                           $1,000
Waunakee Fire Department – search & rescue equip       $7,220*
Waunakee Police Department – vest & helmet equip        $3,850*
Waunakee Senior Center – elderly cooking classes           $2,200
Waunakee Warrior team center for soccer stadium          $12,500*

*  half of requested amount, given to promote a match from other donors.

New Waunakee Library total pledge was $150,000.  $90,000 has been paid and balance of $60,000 will be given later this year upon completion.

The valuable impact of these gifts will multiply and have a positive ripple effect.  This year, three of the Foundation’s largest gifts went to the new Waunakee Library opening this fall, the new Madison Youth Arts Center opening in 2020, and the Waunakee Soccer Team Center Stadium.  Each of these projects will touch a large population and be used by a broad scope of people.

The work nonprofits do to improve lives is critical.  The work they do to create better neighborhoods is important.  The work they do to build strong communities is impressive.

Chopra said, “Everything that is of value in life only multiplies when it is given.”  Everyone should seek to give back to their community with their time, talent or treasure.  If you want to give but don’t know how, the EMC Foundation accepts donations of any size, and all money is channeled wisely to positive community projects.  Check our website online.

MGE Announces Goal of Net-Zero Carbon Electricity by 2050

“We believe it is important to articulate a long-term goal that is both visionary and based on the
best climate science available,” CEO says.

Madison, Wis., May 14, 2019—Madison Gas and Electric (MGE) today set a new goal of net-zero carbon electricity for its customers by 2050, said Jeff Keebler, MGE Chairman, President and CEO.

“In creating an energy future for our customers and shareholders, we need ambitious and crucial reductions in carbon emissions that align with the work of the scientific community, specifically the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and its assessment of limiting global temperature increases to 1.5 degrees Celsius by 2050,” Keebler said.

MGE already has been on a path to reduce carbon, having reduced carbon dioxide emissions 23% since 2005 and targeting carbon reductions of at least 80% by 2050 from 2005 levels.

“Since introducing our carbon reduction targets, we have always said that if we can go further faster by working with our customers, we will. We believe it is important to articulate a long-term goal that is both visionary and based on the best climate science available. Our net-zero carbon goal is aggressive, and it will require technologies not yet commercially available or cost-effective, but it is where we need to be,” Keebler said.

MGE’s mission continues to be safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable electricity for all customers. Through the application of science and investment in the technologies of today and tomorrow, the company will continue to fulfill its mission.

Climate Science Partnership
MGE also announced it will be working with scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences to help evaluate the company’s net-zero carbon goal in the context of the analyses done by the IPCC. The university will provide expert input and perspective to ensure MGE’s goal is consistent with the IPCC assessment.

In 2015, the company announced its Energy 2030 framework, which was informed by community input and laid out its foundational objectives for building your community energy company for the future:

• Provide customers with options they want today and in the future,
• Help customers use energy efficiently and control future costs for all customers,
• Transition MGE to a more environmentally sustainable energy supply,
• Provide a dynamic electric grid that can integrate all energy technologies to serve customers, and
• Ensure that new and changing technology serves all customers equitably.

“These remain our objectives as we continue to build customer and shareholder value on our path to deep decarbonization,” Keebler said. “As your community energy company, MGE has a history of engaging our customers and communities. We actively continue work to deepen that engagement to achieve our goals. Our net-zero carbon goal is a reflection of our commitment not only to long-term sustainability, rooted in the latest climate science, but also a reflection of our commitment to our customers and communities.”

Key strategies for deep decarbonization include reducing the carbon intensity in electricity generation through adding significant new renewable energy resources and reducing the use of fossil fuels; continued work to help customers with energy efficiency; and electrification, including transportation.

“We are excited about our path, our progress and our ultimate vision. To us, this is what it means to lead and to serve,” said Keebler.

About MGE
MGE generates and distributes electricity to 153,000 customers in Dane County, Wis., and purchases and distributes natural gas to 161,000 customers in seven south-central and western Wisconsin counties. MGE’s parent company is MGE Energy, Inc. The company’s roots in the Madison area date back more than 150 years.

Contact
Steve Schultz
Corporate Communications Manager
608-252-7219 | sbschultz@mge.com

Building Community in Wake of August Floods

Kickapoo River Valley was hit hard by the flooding that affected much of Southwest Wisconsin last August. Several commercial and residential buildings experienced significant damage necessitating demolition. The August flooding has taken a significant toll on the community. The incident spurred local resident and Mead & Hunt employee Scott Lind to action.

As an involved member of the community, Scott could see the emotional, environmental, and physical toll the flooding had on the area surrounding the Kickapoo Valley River. With the help of fellow employee Mark Sauer, Scott was able to enact positive change in his community by creating a team of Mead & Hunt employees dedicated to removing flood debris from the Kickapoo River.

The project struck a chord for many within the company who were themselves affected by the flooding. Due to the high level of interest and dedication, the company provided time off for employees to participate as well as funding for the project. This funding allowed the Kickapoo Valley River to hire a local logging company to remove a large walk-in cooler from the center of the river, along with multiple log jams and other debris.

This cleanup project is vital to the community as the local topography makes farming and transportation difficult, so visitors to the area represent a large source of income. Kayaking, canoeing and tubing in the Kickapoo River is a significant driver of tourists to the area. Keeping the river as beautiful as possible is therefore critical from an environmental, social and financial perspective.

Mead & Hunt believes in empowering employees to enact positive change within their own communities where they see need. For the Kickapoo Valley River community, seeing people come together to rise above the effects of the flooding to actively move forward is a vital morale boost, and also has the potential to drive sorely-needed revenue to the area.

Mead & Hunt is an employee-owned consulting firm and remains strong on ENR’s Top 500 design firm list with a national ranking of 119th in 2019. The firm employs over 750 employees from 30+ offices located across the nation and was named by CE News one of the top 10 engineering companies to work for in the nation.

XXX

Media Contacts:

• Kathy Schumann, Employee Communications, schumann@meadhunt.com 608-443-0374
• Chloe McKenzie, Corporate Communications, mckenzie@meadhunt.com 608-443-0389