Clark Pope Wins First Cleveland Small Business Community Heroes Award

Houston, TX (April 24, 2015) - Direct Energy and Sun News today revealed Clark Pope of Pope's Kitchen as the first-ever Cleveland Small Business Community Hero. In addition to receiving this title, Direct Energy will donate $2,000 to Cleveland-based nonprofit International Partners in Mission (IPM), the charity chosen by Pope. Also, Pope will be recognized in the Sun News, receive a commemorative award, and receive a $500 cash prize.

An award ceremony takes place TODAY, Friday, April 24, 2015 at The Wine Spot, 2271 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118 at 10:30 a.m. Media are welcome to attend.

Clark Pope is an active volunteer, donating his time to many organizations including IPM, Drink Local Drink Tap, Help Malawi, Playhouse Square, Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland Heights, Saint Malachi House and more.

"Clark has shown incredible dedication to his community over the years, and makes community service a key part of his business philosophy," said Stephen Girard, head of small business, Direct Energy Business. "Cleveland has many unsung heroes, and Direct Energy is proud to select Clark as the city's first Small Business Community Hero."

Pope's Kitchen is a locally-based catering business that also creates and produces a line of all-natural sauces. Focused on clean flavors and using locally-sourced products, Pope's Kitchen embodies the commitment to supporting local business and natural food production. For example, the tomatoes used are from Sandusky County Ohio, all products are gluten and artificial preservative free, and all bottles are made in the US. In addition to this award, Pope's Kitchen was recently named "Best of Cleveland" by Cleveland Magazine for its Bloody Mary Mix, and won "People's Choice" from Tito's Handmade Vodka.

For more than 14 years, Clark Pope and Pope's Kitchen staff have helped plan and execute Namaste! One Night for One World. This annual event features international cuisine, live music, wine and handicrafts as well as presentations by IPM's Project Partners about the socio-economic and political issues in their countries, along with the solutions they are implementing to build justice, peace, and hope.

IPM partners with community-based organizations around the world that serve the needs of children, women, and youth. Using the original model set forth by its founders, IPM accompanies the materially poor and socially marginalized in their struggle for justice and peace. IPM provides seed money to help small-scale, community-based and democratically governed programs initiate and implement projects by creating personalized partnerships among donors, friends, project coordinators, and participants.

For further information, please contact:
Jessica Michan
Direct Energy
Jessica.Michan@directenergy.com
713-904-7488