With the holiday season around the corner, Citizens Energy Group’s United Way Team has planned a few opportunities for fellow employees to support families in need.
The Paul Riggins Giving Tree
Ten days before Christmas in 1992, Paul Riggins, who worked for Citizens as a machinist for 47 years, taped a $5 bill to the outline of a Christmas tree on the wall of the facility where he worked. Expecting that someone would take it, he vowed that he would give it to charity if it remained at the end of the week. To Riggins’ surprise, his co-workers began taping $1, $5, $10, $20, and even $50 bills to the wall to be given to charity.
We continue this idea today with the Paul Riggins Giving Tree. Citizens Energy Group is working with the Salvation Army to adopt three Central Indiana families for the holidays. Beginning Monday, November 26, employees may select gifts to purchase from Christmas trees located at the General Office (near the employee entrance), Langsdale 1A (café), Langsdale 1B (1st floor lobby), and Belmont (Section II Lunchroom).
Unwrapped gifts, along with the original ornament listing the item, and cash donations, must be provided to one of these individuals by Wednesday, December 5:
General Office: Beth Smith or Terri Williams (1st floor); Jackie Campbell or Ann Shutters (2nd floor); Jennifer Mentink (3rd floor)
Langsdale 1A: Debbie Frye or Robert Guthrie
Langsdale 1B: Toni Hewson or Keesha Garner
Belmont: Jessica Small
White River: Leo Sparks
Paul Riggins is pictured in the center. The Christmas tree on which he taped a $5 bill can be seen in the background.
Purchase Prize Tickets and Handmade Ornaments at Holiday Event
At Citizens’ annual holiday event, attendees will have the opportunity to purchase prize tickets for a chance to win Pacers tickets, Colts tickets and signed helmets, handcrafted items from Marksmen Construction, including corn hole boards and an outdoor Connect Four game, and more! Also, back by popular demand, ornaments handmade by retiree Ken Whittington will be available for purchase. Only cash will be accepted for tickets and ornaments. Proceeds will support the Paul Riggins Giving Tree program, to purchase gifts for the families that Citizens is adopting.
Read more about the holiday party below.
Make Plans to Attend Holiday Event at Children’s Museum
The annual Citizens Energy Group Holiday Event is scheduled for Monday, November 26, 6-9 p.m. at the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
Citizens employees and their family members and friends are invited to enjoy dinner, explore the museum, take a trip down the two-story Yule Slide, and visit and take photos with Santa and local sports team mascots. A Colts player will be present to sign autographs, and caricature artists, balloon artists, and face painters also will be on site.
Find more details and REGISTER HERE by Friday, November 16!
Results of United Way Golf Outing, Campaign Week
More than $418,000 in total was donated to the United Way of Central Indiana after Citizens Energy Group’s annual golf outing in June and campaign week in August! Thank you for your online pledges, cash donations, and rollover payroll deductions! The total amount includes the matched amounts from Citizens to the United Way for any online donation, and the additional match from Lilly Endowment to UWCI for any new or increased gifts of $52 or more. Way to go, Citizens!
