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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 1997
HOUSTON - Enron Corp. today kicked off its 1997 United Way corporate campaign with a Caribbean-style event for its Houston employees. The island affair featured a 24-foot "cruise ship" docked at the Enron building, grass huts, colorful leis and a limbo contest. Additionally, agencies with United Way of the Texas Gulf Coast provided education and information to encourage volunteerism and explain how donations are used.
"Enron employees are committed to 'Get on Board' for United Way," said Enron Chairman and CEO Kenneth L. Lay. "The music and party atmosphere are fun, and history tells us that campaign kickoff celebrations help promote giving. Even more important, however, is for us to learn about the agencies and what we can do to help."
This year's fund-raising goal for Enron is $2.6 million. Last year the company and its employees contributed more than $2.4 million. Enron matches employee contributions dollar-for-dollar, one of only 20 companies in Houston committed to match at this level.
As community-wide chairman of this year's United Way Community Campaign, Lay is promoting education and volunteerism. SEARCH beneficiary Andre Jack was at the kickoff event to tell his story about how United Way and SEARCH helped him to lead a stable and productive life. Volunteers from SEARCH, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Center for the Retarded and Sheltering Arms were also in attendance to distribute agency materials and speak directly with Enron employees. By increasing awareness of United Way agency activities, Enron campaign coordinators hope to expand employee involvement in the community.
"Enron is helping to 'set the pace' for the community campaign by starting its corporate campaign early, making it an official Pacesetter company for the United Way 1997 Community Campaign," Lay noted. "This year, approximately 35 companies and 51 United Way agencies have committed to be Pacesetters. By conducting early campaigns, Pacesetters serve as predictors of estimated total contributions to the United Way Community Campaign."
The United Way 1997 Community Campaign officially kicks off on September 19 with its annual "Day of Caring."
Enron Corp., one of the world's largest integrated natural gas and electricity companies with approximately $19 billion in assets, operates one of the largest natural gas transmission systems in the world; is the largest purchaser and marketer of natural gas and the largest non-regulated marketer of electricity in North America; is a leading participant in liberalized energy markets in the United Kingdom and the Nordic Countries; markets natural gas liquids worldwide; manages the largest portfolio of fixed-price natural gas risk management contracts in the world; is among the leading entities arranging new capital to the energy industry; owns a majority interest in Enron Oil & Gas Company, one of the largest independent (non-integrated) exploration and production companies in the United States; owns a majority interest in Enron Global Power & Pipelines L.L.C., which is owner and manager of operating power plants and natural gas pipelines around the world; is one of the largest independent developers and producers of electricity in the world; and is a major supplier of solar and wind renewable energy worldwide. Enron's internet address is www.enron.com and its common stock is traded under the ticker symbol, "ENE."
For additional information please contact:
Rachael Tobor
(713) 853-1481
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