JACKSON, Mich., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Michigan nonprofit organizations received $2.8 million in contributions in 2008 from Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees, and the utility's philanthropic arm, the Consumers Energy Foundation. The United Way was the largest single recipient with $1.7 million contributed to 58 local United Way organizations. Foundation and corporate grants totaling more than $1.1 million were awarded to 754 projects. The company's giving programs focus on education, health care, social welfare, culture and the arts, community and civic activities, and the environment. The Consumers Energy Foundation's Volunteer Investment Program awarded grants totaling $201,000 to 401 organizations on behalf of 495 employees and retirees. The grants recognize outstanding volunteerism. "Consumers Energy and its employees have been part of Michigan and the communities and neighborhoods we serve for more than 120 years. The Volunteer Investment Program grants reflect the commitment that our employees and retirees have to help others and improve our communities. Those grants are based on more than 34,000 hours of personal time devoted to worthwhile nonprofit groups around the state," said David Mengebier, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. Mengebier is also the senior vice president of governmental and public affairs for Consumers Energy and the chief compliance officer for the utility and its parent company, CMS Energy. The Consumers Energy Foundation's Matching Gifts program also provided nearly $98,000 to match employee and retiree donations to 41 higher educational institutions, 17 community foundations, and 36 food banks and food pantries across the state. Notable 2008 foundation grants included: -- $90,000 to the Cranbrook Institute of Science for a watershed education program for students in the Bay City, Saginaw and Midland area -- $50,000 to Western Michigan University's Michigan Geological Repository for Research and Education for the "Core Kids" K-12 earth science educational outreach program -- $25,000 to the Detroit Educational Television Foundation, supporting a new mobile production truck and the digital conversion of equipment and facilities -- $20,000 to the YMCA of Metropolitan Lansing, supporting facilities improvements at the Oak Park Branch in west Lansing -- $20,000 to the Lake Huron Council of the Boy Scouts of America for construction of a high adventure and outdoor education zip line course at the Paul Bunyan Scout Reservation in Rose City -- $20,000 to BaySail for construction of the Saginaw Bay Environmental Education Center on the Saginaw River in Bay City -- $15,000 to the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety for development of a Kalamazoo Regional Police and Fire Training Center -- $15,000 to Kalamazoo Communities in Schools supporting the implementation of integrated support services for Kalamazoo Public Schools students -- $15,000 to Greater Midland Community Centers supporting completion of wellness trails -- $15,000 to the Food Bank of South Central Michigan to purchase a forklift for use in its warehouse -- $15,000 to the Keystone Center for a Youth Policy Summit on greenhouse gas reductions in Michigan and Climate Status Investigations teacher training institute to be held in the spring of 2009 at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo -- $10,000 to the Owosso Community Players to reconstruct and rehabilitate the historic Lebowsky Center in downtown Owosso -- $10,000 to the American Red Cross Mid-Michigan Chapter for a disaster response vehicle -- $10,000 to the Kentwood Public Library for the construction of a new library facility -- $10,000 to Montcalm Community College for construction of a new life sciences facility -- $6,000 to the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy for educational outreach efforts supporting wetlands preservation and land conservation within the Saginaw Bay Watershed The Consumers Energy Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Consumers Energy. It provides funding for a variety of areas including education, community and civic development, culture and the arts, social services, the environment, and emerging issues. For more information about the Consumers Energy Foundation, visit its website at: http://www.consumersenergy.com/foundation Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at http://www.consumersenergy.com/ DATASOURCE: Consumers Energy CONTACT: Jeff Holyfield, +1-517-788-2394, or Dan Bishop, +1-517-788-2395, both of Consumers Energy Web Site: http://www.consumersenergy.com/

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