Direct Energy, Cleveland Indians Heed Ohio Governor's Call to Step Up to the Plate to Aid Ohio Flood Victims

Cleveland Indians' star Grady Sizemore backs Neighbor-to-Neighbor effort, asks fans to contribute

08/31/2007, CLEVELAND -- Direct Energy and the Cleveland Indians are asking Tribe fans to bring more than their enthusiasm to Sunday's match-up against the Chicago White Sox. Tribe followers are requested to also come with non-perishable food items that can be donated to assist Ohio flooding victims.

The contributions will go toward Direct Energy's Neighbor-to-Neighbor program, launching in Ohio with the help of the Indians, to raise awareness and resources for those affected by the flooding in the north-central part of the state as the result of record rainfall in recent weeks. Neighbor-to-Neighbor is a Direct Energy program that's been active in Texas, and is now expanding to Ohio in response to Gov. Ted Strickland's plea for citizens, businesses and organizations to do whatever they can to aid to flood victims.

Indians outfielder and Direct Energy spokesman Grady Sizemore stands solidly behind the Neighbor-to-Neighbor initiative, and said he hopes fans will, too. "I appreciate our fans' support of the team," Sizemore said. "Now, I'm encouraging them to join me as part of a different kind of team - one that wins by helping others."

As part of the Ohio launch of Neighbor-to-Neighbor, Direct Energy is donating $25,000 to a Key

Bank fund that's been established for the flood victims and is administered by the American Red Cross.

The non-perishable food items that fans bring to the stadium will be given to the Ohio Association of Second Harvest Food Banks, an agency that provides food and other resources to people in need. The items will be collected from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the Gateway Plaza outside Jacobs Field.

"The Cleveland Indians and Direct Energy already enjoy a strong relationship, and we're enthusiastic about expanding our affiliation with them through efforts like Neighbor-to-Neighbor," said Vic Gregovits, senior vice president of sales and marketing for the Cleveland Indians.

"A commitment to good corporate citizenship means being there when people need you, and that's certainly the case in the flood-stricken parts of Ohio. We're glad to help and happy to have the Indians as our teammate in this undertaking," said Mike Beck, vice president and general manager for Direct Energy.

Since 2003, Direct Energy has contributed more than $2 million in assistance through the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program in Texas, which is being expanded to Ohio as residents in several north-central Ohio counties continue to clean out homes and businesses that were damaged by the record-breaking flooding of late August. President Bush has declared the flooded area a major disaster. Among the counties affected are Allen, Crawford, Hancock, Hardin, Putnam, Richland, Seneca, Van Wert and Wyandot. Direct Energy is the natural gas supplier to the Indians and Jacobs Field.

"Over and over again we are touched by the tremendous generosity of our community in times of disaster. I commend Direct Energy and the Cleveland Indians for supporting the Ohio flood relief effort, and I encourage Tribe fans to remember all the families who have been adversely affected by the floods as they contribute to the American Red Cross relief effort," said Mary-Alice Frank, CEO, American Red Cross, Greater Cleveland Chapter.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The public can help Ohio flood victims and others who are affected by thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster.

The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.

About Direct Energy
Direct Energy is one of North America's largest energy and energy-related services providers with more than 5 million residential and commercial customer relationships. In Ohio, Direct Energy supplies more than 200,000 natural gas customers. The company also operates in Texas, the northeastern United States and across Canada. Direct Energy is a subsidiary of Centrica, one of the world's leading integrated energy companies. For more information, visit www.directenergy.com.

Source: MLB

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