Western Resources 2000 Annual Report

PROJECT DESERVE AND THE WESTERN RESOURCES FOUNDATION

Dorcella Reese and Maria Torrez Anderson, with the American Red Cross in Topeka, help administer the Project DESERVE program to furnish relief for qualified utility customers in northeast Kansas.

Alan Hagge, director of operations in Leavenworth and a Green Team volunteer, helps his son, Colton Hagge, plant a tree in Tonganoxie to replace trees lost to a tornado that hit the town in June 2000.

Jewell Bronson shares a laugh with the Western Resources employee volunteers delivering her lunch as part of the Meals on Wheels program in Topeka.

Shirley Stolzenburg, KPL retiree, visits with two children she watches out for as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer for North Central Kansas CASA.

In 1982, KGE and the American Red Cross created Project DESERVE, through which customers may donate extra money through their utility bills to benefit adults over 60 and severely disabled individuals struggling to make their own payments. When KPL acquired KGE in 1992, the program continued to grow. Contributions from the private sector have allowed the agency to make grants exceeding $5 million since the program's inception.

Mike Wemmer, assistant executive director of the Midway-Kansas Chapter of the American Red Cross, said, “The willingness of customers to contribute to the program to help those in need is really quite striking and a strong statement of support from Kansas communities.” Clara Nell Walker, 72, has sought utility bill payment assistance through Project DESERVE. “The people with Project DESERVE always take care of me with a smile,” said the Wichita resident. “Of all the programs that I can think of that try to help people, this is the best one.”

The Western Resources Foundation has donated more than $660,000 to Project DESERVE, as well as to many other causes dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals living in Kansas communities. In 2000, the Western Resources Foundation contributed more than $1.9 million to fund social service agencies, develop educational programs, promote environmental efforts, support capital campaigns and underwrite cultural arts exhibits and performances.

GREEN TEAM

Green Team volunteers made up of Western Resources employees, retirees and their families spend countless weekends and evenings preserving wetlands, restoring prairies, planting trees and helping sensitive species like peregrine falcons and golden eagles thrive in the wild. Often working with environmental, educational and community groups, the more than 730 volunteers statewide plant wildflowers, design and build bluebird nesting boxes and create nature trails from recycled lumber, fly ash and bottom ash taken from the coal used in the power plants.

In October, the Green Team received the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Region Six Hero Award and in February 2001 garnered the Conservation Organization of the Year Award from the Kansas Wildlife Federation.

The Green Team has completed more than 700 grassroots projects in Kansas and received more than 40 awards since its inception in 1989. Since 1991, the Green Team has planted more than 17,000 trees, many of which replaced those lost to flood, freeze, tornado and wind damage or drought. Their expertise was used to plant 101 trees at Washburn University of Topeka on May 15, 2000, as part of a national U.S. Forest Service millennium project. Each state had the option to obtain 100 trees with historical significance. For example, the Green Team planted a Dwight D. Eisenhower green ash and an Amelia Earhart sugar maple taken from the yards of these distinguished Kansans’ childhood homes.

“These dedicated, enthusiastic and creative volunteers have worked hard to not only preserve and enhance the state'’s beauty but also to make it easier for more people to enjoy its natural assets,” said Brad Loveless, Green Team coordinator.

MEALS ON WHEELS

In 2000, Western Resources donated $10,000 to Meals on Wheels to establish another delivery route so more elderly and disabled persons in Topeka can benefit from the nutritional program. Five days a week for six years Western Resources employees have been delivering meals to clients who no longer have the ability or the inclination to prepare homecooked meals for themselves.

Jane Metzger, executive director of Meals on Wheels, said, “Our program’s success depends on the generosity of our donors and the dedication of the volunteers who brave all kinds of weather to make sure that our clients get a hot meal and a warm word each day.”

Fred Ward, retired fleet coordinator for Western Resources, delivers meals three days a week and helps out when other volunteers cannot. He has also intervened when clients have suffered strokes or diabetic episodes. “I enjoy the people immensely,” he said. “They’re usually waiting for you and happy to see you since you’re probably the first person they’ve visited with all day. It’s a rewarding interchange.”

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

Community Partners began in January 1998 with Western Resources employees and retirees recording about 12,000 volunteer hours for local community causes. In 2000, the number spiked to 36,000 hours logged by 246 participants. Nineteen volunteers with at least 125 service hours were randomly selected to designate a charity of choice to receive stipends at various levels that collectively totaled $12,500.

David C. Wittig, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Western Resources, presented retiree Shirley Stolzenburg with the 2000 Community Partners CEO Award, a $2,000 stipend she designated to the North Central Kansas CASA, Inc. The court-appointed special advocates agency nominated Stolzenburg, a former dispatcher, for her extensive efforts on behalf of abused and neglected children.

“My greatest satisfaction is dealing with the children,” said Stolzenburg, who also meets with teachers, parents and foster parents and others to prepare court reports and recommendations for the children’s welfare. “A 10-year-old boy recently invited me to attend his school program 50 miles away, and although I debated whether to drive the distance, his wanting me to be there gave me a special feeling that made the travel well worth the effort. He was so happy to have someone there besides his foster parents to support him.”

“Community Partners is an extension of the creativity, compassion and can-do spirit that employees and retirees have long brought to their jobs,” said Cynthia McCarvel, representative, media and community relations for KPL and Community Partners coordinator and creator. “The program allows us to recognize and reward their time to help others.”

PROTECTION CONNECTION

Kansans donated 2,027 used wireless phones to provide an emergency lifeline to victims of domestic violence and their children through Protection Connection, a phone recycling campaign sponsored by Western Resources, Westar Communications, Southwestern Bell Wireless and Alltel during the 2000 holiday season.

The refurbished phones will be reprogrammed solely with 911 access and distributed this spring to 15 domestic violence shelters throughout Western Resources’ service area. Local police stations served as collection points.

Kansas Attorney General Carla Stovall, the honorary chairperson for Protection Connection, said, “With the cell phones, victims can call law enforcement to get an immediate response. This program absolutely will save lives of victims and their children.”