Our employees donated more than 78,000 hours of volunteer service to dozens of organizations and educational institutions on their own time during 2009. We support these activities with $150 AEP Connects volunteer grants to an organization to which an employee has donated at least 40 hours during the year. We made 894 grants totaling more than $134,000 in 2009. The hours donated by our employees have an economic value of more than $1.5 million (using the Independent Sector estimated value of volunteer time of $20.25 per hour) and an indirect contribution that is much greater.

Education is an important community endeaver, and we provide small grants to teachers to support them in the classroom. These Teacher Vision Grants range from $100 to $500 and are provided to educators in grades pre-K through 12 who live or teach in AEP's service are or in communities with AEP facilities. Preference is given to projects that focus on science, mathematics, technology, electrical safety, and the study of energy and the environment. In 2009, we awarded nearly $53,000 in Teacher Vision Grants.

An energy efficiency program targeted at grades 5 through 12 in Ohio, known as e3smartSM, shows students how to apply math and science to reduce their energy usage at home. Within one month of starting the program, students received 24,000 compact fluorescent bulbs to replace incandescent bulbs in their homes. E3smartSM is part of AEP Ohio's gridSMARTSM initiative.

When the disastrous earthquake hit Haiti in early 2010, AEP employees generously donated money to support relief efforts. Employees and contractors raised more than $29,000 in the first week after the quake. Through late March, our employees had donated more than $113,000 and AEP matched it, dollar for dollar, resulting in approximately $226,699. In addition, AEP employees have also donated $2,156 toward relief efforts for the Chilean earthquake. The funds, which we donate to the American Red Cross, Salvation Army and UNICEF for distribution, are expected to continue to grow.

Employee generosity extends to fellow employees when disaster hits. AEP's Emergency Disaster Relief Fund provides up to $3,000 in individual grants to assist employees with food, shelter and other basic necessities if they experience a loss due to a disaster or other tragedy. In 2009, AEP employees donated approximately $86,908 through payroll deductions and special giving to support the fund. We work with the Salvation Army to administer the funds.

Click here to learn more about volunteer service and corporate giving at AEP.

SWEPCO employees help plant trees in their community.