CITIZENS ENERGY GROUP SHARING THE DREAM WITH INDY PARKS IN 2010

Employee Volunteer Days of Service Celebrate and Honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

with Refurbishment of Martin Luther King Park Pool Bathhouse and Pride Park Community Center



Citizens Energy Group and partnering contractors are contributing more than $110,000 in in-kind work and hundreds of hours of employee volunteer service to renovate Martin Luther King Park’s pool bathhouse on the City’s Near-Northside and Pride Park Community Center on the City’s Eastside in a unique public-private partnership with Indy Parks honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

At the pool bathhouse at Martin Luther King Park, Citizens Energy Group is providing contractors and volunteers to replace the roof, paint the floors, ceilings, benches and walls, repair wooden beams, install new fixtures, shower curtains and bathroom stall doors, and create wall murals. At Pride Park Community Center, contractors and volunteers are remodeling the bathrooms and kitchen, building a half wall to create a recreation area in the one-room center, renovating the office and storage areas, replacing fixtures, installing new ceiling tiles, decorating, painting and supplying new appliances. Partnering industrial contractor Marksmen Construction Services’ in-kind contributions to the projects total $36,000. In addition, C.E. Reeve Roofing and Firestone Building Products have provided combined work and materials contributions totaling about $25,000. Local interior/architecture firm Mitsch Design is providing $2,500 in services.

“With Sharing the Dream, Citizens Energy Group reaffirms its commitment to helping the City of Indianapolis create a world-class parks system,” said Mayor Greg Ballard. “This very generous donation of time, energy and resources by Citizens Energy Group’s staff and leadership showcases the community spirit of this corporate entity and exemplifies the kind of public-private partnerships we seek to support our assets for decades to come.”

Sharing the Dream 2010 marks Citizens Energy Group’s second service project with Indy Parks. Citizens Energy Group’s first Sharing the Dream project in January 2009 resulted in more than $50,000 worth of improvements to Brookside Park Family Center.

The Martin Luther King Park pool bathhouse serves Indy Parks patrons who recreate at the outdoor pool, a popular summertime destination. The Pride Park Community Center provides after-school opportunities and summer day camp programs to area children and teenagers.

“Through Sharing the Dream 2010, Citizens Energy Group is proud to continue our tradition of honoring Dr. King and his tremendous service to humanity by supporting the renovations at Martin Luther King Park and Pride Park,” said Carey Lykins, president and CEO of Citizens Energy Group. “We are privileged to work with Indy Parks while reinforcing our commitment to neighborhood redevelopment and enhancing the quality of life in our community.”

From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010, Citizens Energy Group volunteers will paint, clean and undertake other projects at the Martin Luther King Park pool bathhouse. From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, Citizens Energy Group volunteers will perform a second Day of Sharing at Pride Park Community Center. About 200 Citizens Energy Group employee volunteers are expected to participate during their regular working hours on Thursday and Friday. On Monday, Jan. 18, 2010, Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Mr. Lykins and other dignitaries will serve refreshments to area residents at open houses at each facility.

“This partnership highlights the heart and passion Citizens Energy Group’s employees bring to our neighborhoods,” said Indy Parks Director Stuart Lowry. “I can think of no better canvas for this year’s Sharing the Dream project than Martin Luther King Park, which honors the past with a wonderful memorial to Dr. King while serving the neighborhood today with great amenities, including our pool. We are extremely grateful for Citizens Energy Group’s gift of time and talent for this vital green footprint and look forward to sharing the upgrades with our patrons.”