Plus-1 Events

The Plus-1 utility assistance program will get a needed assist this week in the form of two events.

Tonight, the MLGW Board of Commissioners will conduct its first-ever Plus-1 Phonathon from 6-8 p.m. in the MLGW Administration Building lobby. Phonathon participants include MLGW board members and employees, and organizations such as MIFA, the City of Memphis, and TVA have also been invited to participate.

The teams will make calls to friends, family and other potential donors in an effort to increase the assistance available from Plus-1.

Last night, MIFA, which administers the Plus-1 program, was selected by the Kroger Cares program to benefit from the Memphis Grizzlies game as they take on the defending world champion Dallas Mavericks. Proceeds from the game will benefit MIFA's Plus-1 program, a 30-year partnership with MLGW that provides utility assistance for families in financial crisis. More information about this event can be found at: http://www.mifa.org/plus-1nightwiththememphisgrizzlies.

During the past 30 years, Plus-1 has raised nearly $7 million for utility assistance. Just last year during 2011, the Plus-1 program received $239,000 from donors. The average amount of assistance is about $200, which helps offset utility costs for eligible recipients who have suffered a temporary, unavoidable loss of income or crisis in the household such as job layoff, serious illness, or a house fire.

Currently, 8,900 MLGW customers regularly contribute to the Plus-1 program. That's about 2 percent of the MLGW customer base. If every MLGW customer gave $1 per month to the Plus-1 program, MIFA could help more than 20,000 families each year -- the number of Memphis families now in need of utility assistance.

• Complete the on-line form at www.plus1memphis.org
• To make a one-time donation: click here
• To donate $5 via text: Text MIFA to 20222 (Message and data rates may apply.)