Direct Energy Awards Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley $2,500 Grant

Pittsburgh, PA (12/10/2012) - Direct Energy will be presenting a $2,500 Reduce Your Use For Good Grant to the Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley , a nonprofit, no-kill animal shelter in New Kensington, Pennsylvania, on December 13, 2012 at the shelter at 10 a.m. The nonprofit is the first in Pennsylvania to receive the grant. The shelter animals will be showcasing their holiday spirit by donning jingling bells and holiday-inspired bandanas.

Through the Reduce Your Use For Good Grant Program, Direct Energy is offering nonprofits up to $100,000 to implement energy-saving changes to their operations, and awards grants in $2,500 increments. Applications are available online at ReduceYourUseForGood.com and on the Direct Energy Facebook page.

"At Direct Energy, we're committed to harnessing our energy expertise to make a difference in people's lives," said Sayed Khoja, commercial director for Direct Energy. "Reduce Your Use For Good grants like this one for the Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley will help support nonprofits in decreasing their energy use in order to have more funds to support their mission."

To apply for the grant, Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley submitted a short video showcasing their facility and their mission.

"We are thrilled to receive this generous grant from Direct Energy," said Pat Presutti, an Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley board member. "The shelter staff is not only learning more about saving energy, but they now have more funds to work with to focus more on the overall mission - finding the shelter animals their forever homes."

In an effort to use social media to drive social good, Direct Energy is leveraging its Facebook community to help award the grants. For every 2,500 new "Likes" Direct Energy receives on their Facebook page, they will award another nonprofit applicant with $2,500 to be used toward reducing their energy use, helping them to continue the good work they do.

Since the program's inception in 2006, Direct Energy has awarded $120,000 to 48 nonprofits. Grant funds can be used for energy-efficient products or services to help nonprofits reduce their energy use. To be eligible, organizations must have a current and active Registered Charitable Number in Canada or 501(c)(3) status in the United States, be registered with and be in good standing with the appropriate state registration agency, and be in a Direct Energy service area .

For more information, visit ReduceYourUseForGood.com.

About Direct Energy

Direct Energy is North America's largest provider of heating & cooling, plumbing and electrical services and a leading energy and energy-related services provider with over six million residential and commercial customer relationships. Direct Energy provides customers with choice and support in managing their energy costs through a portfolio of innovative products and services. A subsidiary of Centrica plc (LSE: CNA), one of the world's leading integrated energy companies, Direct Energy operates in 46 U.S. states plus the District of Columbia and 10 provinces in Canada.

About Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley

Animal Protectors is dedicated to owning, maintaining and operating a premiere, no-kill animal shelter. In this ownership, they strive to decrease dog and cat overpopulation through education on responsible pet care. They are also committed to rescuing and caring for the community's strayed, abandoned, and abused animals as they overcome both physical and emotional injury. Animal Protectors will speak for these animals by enforcing their rights. Their no-kill and adoptive policies, in conjunction with their educational outreach process, enables them to match these loving animals with appropriate caring homes. To learn more about Animal Protectors of Allegheny Valley, please visit www.animalprotectors.net.

For more information contact:

Julie Hendry
Direct Energy
1-412-925-6773
Julie.Hendry@directenergy.com