The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity will lead to an increased risk of heat-related stress and illness. The very young, the elderly, those without air conditioning, and those participating in strenuous outdoor activities will be the most susceptible. Also, car interiors can reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.

There are numerous heat-related services available for residents: Cooldownstlouis.org is helping area seniors and the disabled with their air-conditioning and utilities; and area low-income households may also apply for utility assistance only, at 314-241-7668, or www.Cooldownstlouis.org.

In addition to the monetary donation, the school’s four St. Louis-area campuses in Berkeley, St. Charles, Sunset Hills, and Fairview Heights continue to serve as drop-off locations for new and slightly used air-conditioning units (less than two years old). Vatterott’s HVAC program students and instructors inspect and repair the units to make sure they are in good working order, then Cooldownstlouis.org volunteers deliver them to area seniors and disabled adults in need. The summer charity of (Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc.) will provide a tax-deductible receipt to those who donate units.

Rene Crosswhite, president of Vatterott Educational Centers, Inc., presented the $5,000 check to Cooldownstlouis.org board president Pamela Walker and president emeritus Lance LeComb, recently at its 17th annual business/board meeting at the Jewel Box in St. Louis Forest Park. Vatterott’s support is particularly meaningful to Crosswhite who was also sworn in as an executive board member for Cooldownstlouis.org and Heatupstlouis.org, its sister program that helps people in need with delinquent heating bills in the winter, as well as with financial literacy counseling, etc.

“We are glad that we can help those in need stay safe and cool during the hot St. Louis summer,” said Rene Crosswhite, President of Vatterott Educational Centers, Inc. “It is important for our campuses to help local elderly and disabled residents to make an impact in our community.”

If a senior or person who is disabled needs assistance, visit the Cool Down St. Louis website at www.cooldownstlouis.org or call the organization’s automated hotline at 314-241-7668.

Air conditioner drop-off locations:
• Vatterott College NorthPark: 8580 Evans Avenue, Berkley, MO 63134
• Vatterott College St. Charles: 3550 W Clay Street, St. Charles, MO 63301
• Vatterott College Sunset Hills: 12900 Maurer Industrial Drive, St. Louis, MO 63127
• Vatterott College Fairview Heights: 110 Commerce Lane, Fairview Heights, IL 62208

Vatterott College offers a 60-week Heating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Service Technician diploma program that provides courses in fundamental electricity, refrigeration, air conditioning and heating fundamentals. The associate degree program is an 80-week program with an emphasis on management. For more information, call 314-264-1000 or visit www.vatterott.edu.

About Vatterott College
Vatterott College has been dedicated to providing quality career training to students seeking the skills to advance in their field since 1969. Vatterott, with its headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, has campuses across the Midwest. Diploma, associate and bachelor degrees are offered in trade industries such as HVAC, diesel mechanic, auto repair, building maintenance, allied health, and computer technology, as well as music production and culinary arts. Vatterott operates 20 campuses across seven states and online programming. To learn more, please visit www.vatterott.edu.

Cooldownstlouis.org also unveils the Save Our Seniors Project

ST. LOUIS (May 26, 2017) – Memorial Day weekend is the official kick-off of summer. Last year, the St. Louis region experienced days of life-threatening heat. As part of the annual Cool Down S.O.S. (Save Our Seniors) Air Conditioner project, Ameren Missouri is donating 500 window air conditioners to Cooldownstlouis.org, a regional not-for-profit public education and resource charity, which will distribute them to physically disabled and elderly Ameren Missouri customers throughout eastern Missouri. This is the 12th year that Ameren Missouri has sponsored the giveaway. Ameren Missouri also is pleased to donate to Cooldownstlouis.org supplemental funds in the amount of $25,000 for grants to qualified area residents at risk.

“Ameren Missouri is committed to providing safe and reliable energy to our 1.2 million customers in communities throughout our state. As part of our mission to power the quality of life, we also connect with communities through a variety of education and outreach programs – such as Cooldownstlouis.org’s Save Our Seniors project, which distributes hundreds of air conditioners we are donating today to customers in need,” said Michael Moehn, president, Ameren Missouri. “We’re fortunate to have Cooldownstlouis.org as a dedicated and proven partner leading this initiative. Over the years, we have formed a productive partnership that aims to keep people cool and safe during the hot summer months.  We also appreciate the charity’s endorsement of many of our customer service programs, such as our budget billing program, which help neighbors maintain an affordable monthly utility bill. We are proud to support Cooldownstlouis.org and its partner agencies, which do an outstanding job distributing these air conditioners to those in need.”

The air conditioners are ENERGY STAR®-certified units that meet the strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy. They cost approximately 75 cents per day to operate. Eligible recipients (seniors and people with physically disabilities only) will be selected by Cooldownstlouis.org and its partner agencies, which uses age and certain medical circumstances to determine qualification for air-conditioners. However, utility assistance this summer also is based also on income eligibility.

“This is a shining example of local leaders coming together with the private sector to make a difference for our community,” said Missouri State Treasurer Eric Schmitt and board member of Cooldownstlouis.org. “The Save our Seniors (S.O.S) program unveiled today will be an effective tool to combat heat-related illnesses. I encourage anyone who can to join this effort by donating their new or slightly used air conditioning units to Cooldownstlouis.org.”

The annual giveaway is supported by Commissioner Scott T. Rupp of the Missouri Public Service Commission and also Cooldownstlouis.org board officials: Missouri State Treasurer Eric Schmitt; St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson; St. Louis County Executive Steve V. Stenger; St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann; St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, who also represents the Greater St. Louis Area Fire Chiefs Association; Rev. Earl E. Nance, Jr., board emeritus; and Michael P. McMillan, president/CEO, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.

“The fact is, some people consider air conditioning to be an almost unaffordable option. To help take the “heat” off summer cooling bills, Cooldownstlouis.org also encourages the use of budget billing, said St. Louis County Executive Steve V. Stenger and honorary board chair of Cooldownstlouis.org. “For those who have air conditioning units, we urge you to properly maintain them, which will save you money and maximize your home cooling.”

If a senior or person with physical disabilities needs assistance, please visit the Cooldownstlouis.org website or call the organization’s automated hotline at 1-314-241-7668. Funds are available on a first-come basis to those who qualify. The public can also make secured donations online.

“Many may assume that being without utilities or cooling resources is just an urban challenge. I’m here to tell you that this is far from the truth. There are hundreds of residents throughout Missouri; including the Eastern Missouri area, who are seniors or physically disabled on fixed-incomes,” said Scott T. Rupp, Commissioner, Missouri Public Service Commission. “They are making tough budget choices. The Cooldownstlouis.org undertaking of a S.O.S. (Save our Seniors) project is an admirable task and is needed.”

Along with making a donation valued at about $100,000 in 500 energy efficient window units, and utility assistance, Ameren Missouri also provided critically important maintenance instructions with each unit, including Cooldownstlouis.org cooling tips and outreach assistance cards.

“Cooldownstlouis.org, plays a critical safety net role in our region, along with its dynamic consortium of first-responders, social service partners, regional leaders, churches, and good corporate citizens, like Ameren Missouri,” said St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, and honorary co-chair.”  “Our SOS project is ambitious because it provides public awareness, utility assistance grants and thanks to Ameren, life-lines with new air-conditioners.”  Mayor Krewson also insisted that the public check on their most vulnerable neighbors this summer, to avoid heat-related illnesses, etc.

As part of the Cooldownstlouis.org S.O.S. project, officials are reminding other area corporations and the public that they too can donate a new or slightly used air conditioner (no less than two years old) to the regional charity by dropping off a unit at any Vatterott College campus. More information and locations are available at Cooldownstlouis.org.

“It’s clear that need knows no geographic boundaries. In St. Charles County, we have similar utility affordability issues and lack of A/C ownership challenges for area seniors and disabled County residents,” said St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann, honorary co-chair, Cooldownstlouis.org. “Because of our collective efforts, we’re looking to experience a much more comfortable and safer summer.”

The Clergy Coalition of Metropolitan St. Louis; City/County human services, area fire departments and health departments have been asked to distribute informational cooling card tips to thousands of area residents who are also seeking utility assistance, as part of the S.O.S. outreach.

“The Ameren/Cooldownstlouis.org S.O.S. (Save Our Seniors) program is desperately needed. Today’s utility dollars will also supplement sparse funds currently in-house for many partnering agencies, especially in the outlying areas. Every red cent, will save a life,” said Michael P. McMillan, President/CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis. “It also takes a village to check on our area elderly and physically disabled neighbors, during the St. Louis region’s unforgiven humid summer days. Cooldownstlouis.org and Ameren’s summer S.O.S. (Save Our Seniors) is an ambitious safety net program that helps literally cool down lives and that’s the bottom line.”

“At its core, Cooldownstlouis.org saves lives during summer months. Our S.O.S. (Save our Seniors) is an effective network that connects.  For our EMS crews here in the City, and throughout the metro area, an air-conditioner is truly often that saving grace and life-line to avoiding strokes and so many other physical ailments caused by the stress of hot and unforgiven summer days,” said Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, a member of the Greater St. Louis Area Fire Chiefs Association.  “We appreciate Cooldownstlouis.org and Ameren Missouri’s partnership. We significantly benefit by this exceptional corporate generosity.”

Last year, Cooldownstlouis.org distributed about 1,200 donated air conditioners thanks to Ameren Missouri and the public through Vatterott, etc. Since its inception however, the all-volunteer summer charity has distributed more than 11,500 units.

“Thank you, Ameren Missouri, and your volunteers for helping distribute these gifts of life. We work feverishly to keep our precious seniors and physically disabled neighbors, alive and well, each summer,” said Cooldownstlouis.org’s chair emeritus the Rev. Earl E. Nance, Jr.  “Checking on your neighbors also ensures that we have no fatalities this summer. We operate on the generosity of area contributors. So, I’m pleading with bi-state area residents who can, please donate today, as we prepare to fight the oppressive and dangerous forthcoming St. Louis heat.”

Along with promoting heat safety and the importance of running an air conditioner during the hot summer months, Ameren Missouri invites customers to learn about its energy efficiency programs, which offer rebates to replace inefficient air conditioner units and a variety of other programs that help customers save energy and money. More information is available at AmerenMissouri.com/rebates.

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Ameren Missouri has been providing electric and gas service for more than 100 years, and the company’s electric rates are among the lowest in the nation. Ameren Missouri’s mission is to power the quality of life for its 1.2 million electric and 127,000 natural gas customers in central and eastern Missouri. The company’s service area covers 64 counties and more than 500 communities including the greater St. Louis area. For more information, please visit AmerenMissouri.com or follow Ameren Missouri on Facebook or Twitter.

The 17th Annual Hardee’s Rise ‘N Shine for Heat, a region-wide fundraiser is scheduled for Friday, February 10, during breakfast, at bi-state area participating Hardee’s restaurants, which will assist many rural, urban and suburban needy residents in paying their high delinquent winter heating bills. DiLeo and Reverend Nance stressed that need has no geographic boundaries, and that state and federal governments can’t do it all, and volunteer partnerships like HUSTL is an ever-expanding fiscal safety net for the St. Louis region. This year’s theme is “Have A Heart…Heat A Home.”

Hundreds of crew members for St. Louis area Hardee’s franchisee Pioneer Restaurants LLC will help Heatupstlouis.org collect funds in canisters and from 100% sales of the Sausage ‘N Egg and Egg biscuit sandwiches the morning of Friday, February 10, ONLY; with a canister drive going through that weekend.

About 650 volunteers from area businesses, social services agencies, first-responders, elected officials, the media and health specialists will accept donation tips from customers at the menu boards, drive-thrus and in the dining rooms of area participating Hardee’s. 100% of combined funds collected, will stay in those communities, and used strictly for utility assistance.

“Heatupstlouis.org helps save lives,” said St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, a member of the Fire Chiefs Association of Greater St. Louis, and general co-chair of this year’s bi-state area, Hardee’s Rise ‘N Shine for Heat project. “Winter time is the most dangerous time for home and apartment fires because some people attempt to use unsafe methods of heating their homes. It’s important to work with the utilities and keep your primary home heating source connected, especially during the winter months, as your health and safety become more critically important to you and your family.”

The bi-state area charity depends on grass-roots and public service fundraisers to address utility assistance needs in about 12 MO/IL counties and the City of St. Louis. Heatupstlouis.org is asking the public, this year on Friday, February 10, to tweet #heatupstl or @heatupstl messages in support of its regional efforts.

About 650 civic, religious, business, social service, first-responders, media, political and community leaders will join these honorary chairs invited to participate, and they include: Board President, Lance LeComb; St. Louis Fire Chief Dennis Jenkerson, representing Fire Chiefs Association of Greater St. Louis (MO/IL); Missouri State Treasurer Eric Schmitt; Tom Trotter, Operating Partner, Pioneer Restaurants, LLC, (owner of area Hardee’s); Fred Bird, St. Louis Cardinals mascot; St. Louis Charles County Steve Ehlmann; St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay; St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger; St. Clair County Chairman Mark Kern; Melanie DiLeo, Board Chairwoman; Rev. Earl E. Nance, Jr., Chair Emeritus, St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition; Brian Leonard, Director of Corporate Initiatives,  Ameren Corp; Mary Hutchinson, Community Council of St. Charles County; Pamela Walker, regional health consultant; Michael Patrick McMillan, president, Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Inc; Denise Liebel, United Services for Children; Steve Lemley, SVP, Media/Marketing, Hardee’s Food Systems, LLC, and Michael Moehn, president and chairman, Ameren Missouri, to name a few.

This winter, a series of cold snaps snuck up on the St. Louis bi-state area residents, presenting some high natural gas, electric, propane and home-heating oil bill challenges for thousands, who battle affordability, and may often resort in unsafe methods of heating homes, causing thousands of dollars in property loss, and loss of lives. In the past, the St. Louis region has experienced infant and senior deaths, often due to the use of space heaters.

Unfortunately, contributions from this year’s unusually mild winter have lagged, because when temperatures are consistently above freezing for a short period, people do not see the importance of giving. Even in a mild winter, many sections of the bi-state area have old housing stock, often with poor or no weatherization. Heatupstlouis.org supports health, safety, weatherization and energy efficiency, along with utility budget programs in an increasingly aging and low-income population area.

However, the requests to help Missouri and Illinois qualified seniors, disabled and low-income residents facing a lack of home heating, or a disconnection notice, continues to rise at a steady pace.  HUSTL Vice Chair Dr. James Knight, also points out that a senior or disabled person’s health can be exacerbated by not having a primary consist home heating source.

The St. Louis radio and television stations have been invited annually to provide live news remote coverage throughout much of the 5:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. breakfast period, (depending on the opening times, when some area Hardee’s may serve breakfast).  Melanie DiLeo, Board Chairwoman of HUSTL stressed that the media plays a dynamic role in protecting the health and safety interests of area needy households through their annual staunch non-competitive support of this regional fundraiser.

“For many families in St. Clair and the surrounding Illinois counties, it has been, so far for some of our elderly, disabled and low-income people, a financial challenging winter in term of their inabilities to pay their heating bills,” said Mark Kern, St. Clair County Board Chairman, and a member of the Heat-Up St. Louis, governing board of directors.  “The annual Hardee’s Rise ‘N Shine for Heat has become a godsend in its partnership with us, because all of the monies collected stay right here in our community.”

In addition, about 650 volunteers will be wearing two-pocket collection aprons at various drive-thrus, menu boards and in the dining rooms, collecting tips only on February 10. Area groups and corporations can also go online at www.heatupstlouis.org and register for pre-bulk sandwich purchases through Wednesday, February 8. This year, because of the need being so great, Hardee’s will expand its canister collection ONLY portion of the fundraiser through the weekend of February 10-12.

“Being without a home heating source during this winter can trigger major health and safety issues for the most vulnerable, and Heatupstlouis.org often serves as that safety net providing supplemental or primary grants to thousands of qualified Missouri and Illinois residents, in particular seniors and disabled people residing in St. Louis County,” said St. Louis County Executive Steven V. Stenger, and honorary co-chair. “For 17 years Hardee’s Rise ‘N Shine for Heat, a region-wide fundraiser has been that impactful financial vehicle making it possible to keep our county residents’ utilities connected.” In 2016, HUD and St. Louis County Planning department, provided more than $400,000 in utility grants to Heatupstlouis.org. All those funds have been used to reduced or eliminate summer and fall utility bills for hundreds of County residents.

Stenger, also said the strength behind this long-time regional charitable event are the 650 volunteers serving as greeters, who encourage businesses and customers to give them tips, at the area (MO/IL) Hardee’s franchisee units. “Often about this time during the winter, various utility funding pots in the St. Louis region are exhausted,” said Michael Patrick McMillan, President and CEO, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.  “Hardee’s Rise ‘N Shine for Heat’ fundraiser is a critical partnership with Heatupstlouis.org that has been a blessing for thousands of qualified seniors, disabled and low-income families throughout the bi-state area waiting in line for some sort of heating assistance.”  McMillan is also a member of HUSTL executive board and his agency partners with Heat-Up St. Louis qualifying some bi-state clients.

Monies collected as tips from volunteers positioned in the drive-thrus, menu boards, and restaurants along with canisters on the counter will also stay in the respective city or county where collected.

“Hardee’s and Heat-Up St. Louis have developed an incredible partnership over the past 17 years to help keep area seniors, people who are disabled, and low-income individuals warm and safe during the winter by paying their utility bills,” said St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, and honorary board chair of HUSTL. “More than 6,000 volunteers and countless more customers have continued to help make the annual Rise ‘N Shine a major success because of their generosity. Canister collections and sales of Sausage and Egg and Egg biscuits go directly to Heat-Up St. Louis and its partners, and those funds stay in their respective local communities to help our neighbors in need.” St. Louis City will provide a significant grant announcement during the Hardee’s Rise ‘N Shine for Heat fundraiser.

The volunteers will all wear official Heat-Up/Hardee’s collection aprons and will accept tips from the customers, while referring them to Hardee’s employees to purchase specially priced Sausage and Egg biscuit or Egg biscuit sandwiches for $1 each.  100% of those proceeds also go to Heatupstlouis.org.  Hardee’s franchisee and Ameren underwrote the costs of the pocket-collection aprons, and other expenses, so there’s no administrative costs.

The public can also make tax-deductible donations through the charity’s secured website at: www.heatupstlouis.org, or by a check or money order to Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc., c/o UMB Bank, P.O. Box 868, St. Louis, MO 63188.  A direct donation is 100% tax deductible, as prescribed by law.

“Heat-Up St. Louis has played a critical role in St. Charles County, helping our most vulnerable seniors, disabled and low-income families with their winter heating bills,” said St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann and honorary board vice chair. “We depend on the generosity of our County residents and businesses to support the Hardee’s Rise ‘N Shine for Heat annually. The fact that 100% of all funds collected by volunteers and the sale of a Hardee’s breakfast product effectively helps HUSTL and its social service partners impact the well-being of many of our residents each winter.”  In addition to Ehlmann, Heatupstlouis.org has four other executive board members from the St. Charles County area.

Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr. pointed out that Heat-Up St. Louis funds may often be the only source of assistance in some parts of the St. Louis region.  LIHEAP, the federal program, qualifies certain income levels, and several other utility or government programs are used with Heat-Up St. Louis grants, as a supplemental source to re-connect service or stop a disconnection notice due to the sizes of the utility bill.  However, of late, Heat-Up St. Louis has become the primary source for utility assistance, putting a financial strain on its fundraising efforts.

“What has made our efforts of public education, advocacy and utility assistance a critical regional safety net has been the generosity of the public and the magnificent support of the electronic and print media,” said J. Kim Tucci, Board President Emeritus of Heatupstlouis.org. “The media realizes that being without a home heating source has become a top serious public health and safety issue that continues to negatively impact the quality of life for thousands of bi-state area residents.”

Since its inception, the 58 members, diverse, all-volunteer board of directors has impacted the lives of more than 324,000 persons and received more than $13.5 million in various small donations. The Board of Directors and corporate donors routinely underwrite year-round all administration costs, so that 100% of public donations are used solely to provide utility assistance, public education and advocacy initiatives.  The charity also operates a resource automated hotline at 314-241-7668, as well as on-line assistance through www.heatupstlouis.org.