Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr., Elected to Board of Directors for Heat-Up St. Louis/Cool Down St. Louis and Named Chairman of Campaigns

The board of directors of Heat-Up St. Louis, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization unanimously voted to elect the Reverend Earl E. Nance, Jr., president of the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition to a three-year term as a member of its board of directors.

The election was held at the annual board meeting on June 29, at Truman Bank. In addition, to the election of Reverend Nance to the board, he was named Chairman of Campaigns for 2001 through 2003. Developer Kevin McGowan, of the McGowan Brothers Development who has been instrumental in providing resources to the charity since its inception in December 2000 was also elected for a two-year term.

The board also elected as its new treasurer, certified public accountant Curt M. Swearingen, CPA/PFS. Swearingen is employed at the St. Louis west county accounting firm of Schroeder & Associates, P.C.

\”We are pleased to have the opportunity to build a stronger all-volunteers board to include a diverse group of individuals willing to help us in our mission to keep our less fortunate neighbors warm in the winter and cool in the summer,\” said president and founder Gentry W. Trotter.  The board of directors also approved the request of the founder and president to take a more active role against some rate hikes and other heating and cool issues which negatively impact the quality of life of needy families in the St. Louis region.

\”If we are going to continue to ask for donations from the general public, we also have a Judeo-Christian responsibility of doing all that we can to protect the interests of the less fortunate and working poor,\” said Trotter. \”All too often some utility firms continue to get richer and fatter at the expense of those who are barely scrapping their resources together just to have life\’s essentials.\”

The organization works with ten social service and community action agencies in about 15 Missouri and Illinois counties. All administrative cost of the non-profit is underwritten mainly by board members, so that every dollar collected goes to helping needy families. Tax-deductible donations may be sent to Cool Down St. Louis, c/o Truman Bank, P. O. Box 9330, St. Louis, Missouri 63117.

Heat-Up St. Louis is in the midst of its cooling assistance program which will help purchase air-conditioners or pay electric bills for senior and disabled bi-state residents only. The organization will distribute funds to local social service and community action groups from its first summer cooling fundraiser on Monday, July 23 with the assistance of United States Senator Jean Carnahan of Missouri. Heat Up/Cool Down St. Louis will also provide updated financial disclosures.