PECO forgoes party to make a difference

NORTH PHILADELPHIA - November 14, 2009 (WPVI) -- Some Philadelphia Electric employees chose to skip their company holiday feast to feed people who really need the food.

Here's a question for you: Given a choice between having your annual company gala party at a cost of $65,000 or giving the money to charity and spending your time together with your coworkers making food for those in need, what would you do?

Perhaps you chose the party or you're still thinking about it, but for PECO and it's employees during these hard economic times, it was a no-brainer.

PECO's CEO Denis O'Brien today presented a $10,000 check to MANNA, a nonprofit group which provides meals to people living with life-threatening illnesses

"It's hard economic times and we want to reach out into the community and figure out how we can help, and that's the greatest celebration that we can do," O'Brien said.

"It's no secret that nonprofit organizations are challenged in this day and age and every bit of corporate support goes along way with us," MANNA CEO Richard Keaveney said.

Not only that, but 150 PECO employees spent their Saturday preparing or handing out food for the needy at seven locations throughout the region.

"It's hard times out here, so we're helping out the best way we can," Darnell Green of West Philadelphia said.

"Money's much better spent this way than on a party, and you still get to be with your coworkers and have a great time and do something great for the community," Mary Kirck of West Philadelphia said.

In North Philadelphia, PECO presented $5,000 to Veterans United, a nonprofit group that provides food for the needy.

"This is a great help and we hope other people will see what PECO is doing, and come out and see what we're doing and hopefully donate some time or money," Tony Moore of Veterans United said.

PECO employees were also helping distribute food to as many as 350 needy families in North Philadelphia today:

"God will bless Tony for doing this and we just thank the Lord," Hazel Jones of North Philadelphia said.

People sometimes may not think they're making a difference, but when you come out and you see the people in need that are being helped, you really get to feel for this story and get a sense that they really are making a difference.

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