J. Kim Tucci Named Chairman and Barbara A. Pacifico Named Vice President of the Board of Directors for Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc.

J. Kim Tucci, president of the Pasta House Co. which owns company and franchise restaurants in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and the Dominican Republic has been elected chairman of the board of directors for Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc., a non-profit energy assistance and advocacy program helping the elderly, disabled and low-income families in parts of Missouri and Illinois. Tucci, who was first elected to the board today, and later named its new chairman of the board of directors. His election as chairman is for a two-year term, and his board membership is for a three-year term. The Pasta House Co. also announced, today, that its franchise and company-owned restaurants will make a $10,000 to Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc. Donations to Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc., are tax-deductible.

“Heat-Up St. Louis is needed in the greater St. Louis area,” said Tucci. “There has to be an organization out here independent from the utilities to speak out against the high costs of heating one’s home. We also provide unique methods of raising much needed funds.”

Tucci announced the Pasta House Co. restaurants located in Missouri and Illinois will sponsor a “Buy A Flame – Heat A Home”fundraiser beginning February 9 and through March 9. Customers will buy a flame for one dollar, or more and place their names on the flame and the flame will be posted throughout the Pasta House Co. restaurants.

In today’s meeting of the Board of Directors, the board also announced that one of the nation’s highest ranking women in the quick-service restaurant industry has been elected vice president of the board of directors. Barbara A. Pacifico is executive vice president of CKE Restaurants, Inc., the parent corporation of Hardee’s Food Systems, Inc., and Carl’s Jr. Hardee’s national headquarters is located in downtown St. Louis and the CKE is based in Santa Barbara, California. Her election as vice president is for a two-year term, and her board membership is for a three-year term.

The Hardee’s restaurants in the greater St. Louis metropolitan area announced that it is sponsoring a fundraiser, “Rise and Shine for Heat,” on Valentine’s Day, Thursday, February 14. During the breakfast period, customers will drop of a $1.00 or more and receive a free Sausage and Egg biscuit sandwich. Local civic, business and media volunteers will serve as celebrity counterhelpers, directing customers and obtaining additional donations from the public.

Pacifico replaces Timothy Gorline, vice president of MultiMedia PR Group, and one of the original incorporators of Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc. Gorline resigned his position. However, he will remain on the board. “Tim does a great job overseeing the Heat-Up hotline referral phone banks, and executing all of our administrative chores associated with fundraising.”

In addition to Tucci and Pacifico, two other prominent business persons were elected to the board of directors, they are: Todd Holtmann, chief information officer for Nova Business Systems, Inc., and Doug Jones, who is president of Lightstream Studio. Nova Business Systems, Inc., is responsible for the website applications and maintenance of www.heatupstlouis.org and Lightstream Studio developed the website for the not-for-profit energy assistance and advocacy group. Nova Business Systems, Inc., is a management and information technology firm. Lightstream Studio, is an award winning full service design firm. Both firms which are based in the St. Louis area donated their services.

The board of directors is an all-volunteer board, and all administrative costs associated with operating the group is underwritten by members of the board of directors, so that every dollar donated goes directly toward providing one-time heat supplement grants to the elderly, disabled and low-income families in eastern part of Missouri and the greater metro east area.

Since its inception last year, Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) energy assistance and advocacy organization has helped more than 6,000 families in Missouri and Illinois with energy assistance restoration.