100% proceeds from the special collection from St. Louis Rams fans will help Heat-Up St. Louis, the regional, non-utility, all-volunteer charity, headed-up by St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, which helps the needy restore a home heating source. “Winter is a very dangerous time for many area homeowners, as they make tough choices between eating and heating,” said St. Louis Fire Chief Sherman George. “People often use unsafe methods of heating their homes, and we want to help these people get re-connected, so that they can have a safe and warm winter.”

Heat-Up St. Louis officials also reminds the general public, who can’t get to the game, they can always make tax-deductible donations to: Heat-Up St Louis, c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188. They also can use credit cards by logging into

Heat-Up St Louis chairwoman Melanie DiLeo also praised St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy for making a $5,000. Kennedy previously gave the donation to Chief George,. St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, the honorary board chair and president-elect Kevin McGowan, chairman of McGowan/Walsh loft developers.

‘The St. Louis Rams Club and player Kennedy continue to show a significant concern for area needy residents, said DiLeo. “It’s going to take neighbors, helping neighbors, so we can raise as much money as possible this winter.”

Heat-Up St. Louis which has an all-volunteer board, ensures that all donations go directly to servicing the needy, as all expenses are underwritten by the governing body. This year the energy assistance charity is hoping to raise about $15,000 and much more from the Boot Out Old Man Winter campaign.

During this 2006-07 winter heating season, the charity is hoping to raise from various other fund-raising efforts more than $400,000. Last winter, the group raised a record $700,000. The charity provides energy assistance grants ranging from $100 to $600 to qualified applicants. Anyone who may need assistance needs to call the Heat-Up Hotline at 314-241-7668.

Melanie DiLeo, Chairwoman, Board of Directors, Cool Down St. Louis

Regarding AmerenUE’s “Be Cool” Gift of 225 Air Conditioner,

The Need IS Even Greater

The Board of Directors of Cool Down St. Louis is thrilled at the generosity of AmerenUE’s and Walmart’s gift of 225 air-conditioners to the Jefferson County and St. Louis City/County area. We believe that the Urban League will do a tremendous job in identifying those seniors in need. We applaud AmerenUE for being a good corporate citizen.

However, the need is significantly higher in the St. Louis region. There are more than 500,000 seniors from the age of 62 years and older in the greater St. Louis area. Many of them are disabled, having health-issues and are on fixed incomes. They are still struggling with their utility bills and many do not have units.

Cool Down St. Louis and its 13 other social service partners in 16 Missouri and Illinois Counties, including the City of St. Louis are still in dire need of additional 2,000 new air-conditioners, as well as about $100,000 in tax-deductible cash donations to help the elderly and disabled with their summer electric bills.

We urge AmerenUE and other corporate citizens to provide additional air-conditioners in the marketplace, based on the need, and we also readily encourage individuals to donate new units as well as provide tax-deductible donations to Cool Down St. Louis. 100% of all donations are used to service the needy elderly and disabled this summer, as all expenses are underwritten.

Cool Down St. Louis, an independent, all-volunteer, non-utility summer cooling charity is in desperate need of funds. To donate a new or used-air unit in working condition, please call the Cool Down Resource Hotline at 314-241-7668. Checks and money orders made payable to Cool Down St. Louis or may be dropped off at any UMB Bank teller in Missouri and Illinois. In addition, contributors can send tax-deductible donations to Cool Down St. Louis, c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188, or log-on to www.cooldownstlouis.org.

Editor’s Note: Last Week “Cool Down St. Louis,” kicked-off its, independent grassroots, “Be A Good Neighbor, Check On Your Neighbor,” summer program and its fifth year of appeal for air-conditioners for local firms and individuals as well as tax-deductible donations. AmerenUE’s corporate “Be Cool Program” may provide some confusion in the marketplace. We therefore are issuing a critical release to encourage the region to still continue to provided units as well as donations to Cool Down, which is 100% all-volunteer, and 100% of all funds are tax-deductible and go to servicing the needy as all expenses are underwritten by a 46-member diverse board. Please consider parts of our statement or a graph as a tag to the AmerenUE’s “Be Cool” story. We deeply appreciate it.

Heat-Up St. Louis officials are experiencing an increase in its resource hotline inquiries — from 50 calls a day to about 250. At the same time, the all-volunteer energy assistance and public education charity has experienced donor’s fatigue in the last several months.

Heat-Up St. Louis attributes some of the donor’s fatigue to many area middle-class families, who are also experiencing financial challenges with their own natural gas bills, which have jumped beyond thirty-five percent. Heat-Up officials believe that this winter needy households are making tough choices between heating, eating, and paying their rent, prescription drug and medical bills, etc.

On Friday, February 17, during the breakfast hours of 6:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m., area Hardee’s restaurants will sell at a special price for a $1.00, it’s Sausage and Egg Biscuit Sandwich. 100% of the proceeds will go to Heat-Up St. Louis, who in turn will partner with social service agencies in about 16 Missouri and Illinois counties, including the City of St. Louis to qualify area needy families, the elderly and disabled people. The fundraiser is entitled, “Hardee’s Rise and Shine for Heat.”

During that morning time period about 400 area civic, business, political and media volunteers will serve as celebrity greeters. They will ask the general public and Hardee’s customers for additional check and cash tax-deductible donations. In addition, this year, Hardee’s will expand its in-restaurant canister collections through lunch, ending at 2:00 p.m.

This year’s theme of “Have a Heart…Heat A Home,” is dedicated to the founder of the charity, Gentry W. Trotter. Trotter previously announced that he would be retiring from the 46-member, all-volunteer board at the end of June, after serving for five years. He is currently the president of the board.

100% of all tax-deductible donations go towards servicing the needy, as all administrative expenses are underwritten by various members of the board of directors, including Trotter.

For those members of the public who are not able to make it to a Hardee’s, they can use their credit card on line to contribute at www.heatupstlouis.org. Larger tax-deductible donations may be sent to Heat-Up St. Louis, c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188. The resource help hotline is 314-241-7668.

“It’s critical that the public and Hardee’s customers support this effort,” says Steve Lemley, general campaign chair and vice president of field marketing for Hardee’s, “Being without heat during these severe cold snaps can negatively impact one’s property and health.”

Also participating in this year’s fundraiser are some members of the Greater St. Louis Fire Chiefs Association. During the winter, house and apartment fires are at their highest incidents, due to the use of unsafe methods of heating homes. Heat-Up officials believe the contributing factor to high fire incidents and even deaths is the use of space heaters as a primary method of heating homes. The St. Louis area has already experienced fatalities and the destruction of property this winter.

“The winter can also play havoc on the health of the elderly and the disabled, notwithstanding the emotional impact of a disconnection notice,” says Dr. James Knight, vice chair of the board, and co-chair of the not-for-profit group’s health and safety committee.” “It’s imperative that we reach out and help those less fortunate.” Dr. James Knight is also on the medical staff of Forest Park Hospital.