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WHEREAS, Dollar Energy Fund is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for households experiencing hardships by providing utility assistance and other services that lead to self-sufficiency. Founded in 1983 in Western PA by a collaboration of concerned community and business leaders, Dollar Energy Fund has grown to become the largest hardship fund in Pennsylvania and one of the largest in the country; and,
WHEREAS, with the majority of its funding obtained through private donations and matching utility shareholder credits, Dollar Energy Fund partners with 41 utility companies, including Penn American Water, Columbia Gas of PA, Peoples Natural Gas and Duquesne Light to help at-risk households maintain or restore safe and basic gas, water and electric service; and,
WHEREAS, Dollar Energy Fund has provided $142 million in utility assistance to more than 515,000 households since 1983, with approximately half of the program’s beneficiaries in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Dollar Energy Fund focuses on education, weatherization and payment counseling and administers limited- income programs for a number of utility companies. It has also grown since 1983 to include a state-of- the-art call center, a custom web based grants management system to assist in the administration of the Hardship Program called iPartner and has reduced the grant distribution from 2/4 weeks to 24-48 hours; and,
WHEREAS, On April 19, 2018, Dollar Energy Fund will mark its 35th Anniversary and will kick-off with internal events for their Board of Directors and employees and will recognize this milestone throughout the year with special celebrations, organization functions, fundraising drives and community outreach; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize and commend Dollar Energy Fund for its commitment to provide assistance to those in our community who most need it and congratulates them on 35 years of successful service; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Friday, April 19, 2018 to be “DOLLAR ENERGY FUND DAY” in the City of Pittsburgh.