JACKSON, Mich., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Consumers Energy, its employees and retirees, and philanthropic arm, the Consumers Energy Foundation, contributed $2.8 million to Michigan nonprofit organizations in 2007. The United Way was the largest single recipient with $1.6 million contributed to 58 local United Way organizations. Foundation and corporate grants totaling more than $1.1 million were awarded to 746 projects. Those projects involved education, health care, social welfare, culture and the arts, community and civic activities, and the environment. The Consumers Energy Foundation's Volunteer Investment Program awarded grants totaling almost $200,000 to 404 organizations on behalf of 511 employees and retirees. The grants recognize outstanding volunteerism. "Consumers Energy and its employees are committed to Michigan and the communities we serve and where we live. I'm proud of the $2.8 million in contributions in 2007 and even prouder of the fact that the Volunteer Investment Program grants recognize more than 35,000 hours of personal time devoted to helping others and improving our communities," said David Mengebier, president of the Consumers Energy Foundation. Mengebier is also senior vice president of governmental and public affairs for Consumers Energy and the chief compliance officer for the utility and its parent company, CMS Energy. The Consumers Energy Foundation's Matching Gifts program also provided more than $89,000 to match employee and retiree donations to 39 higher educational institutions, 18 community foundations, and 17 food banks and food pantries across the state. Notable 2007 foundation grants included: -- $150,000 to Michigan State University for the development of a flexible power station serving the College of Engineering's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. -- $50,000 to the western Michigan and northern Indiana division of The Salvation Army for the construction of a new community center in Grand Rapids. -- $40,000 to the Jackson Symphony Orchestra for construction and renovation of its downtown education facilities. -- $25,000 to Michigan Technological University to support the purchase of equipment for its Power and Energy Research Center Laboratory. -- $25,000 to the Detroit Institute of Arts to support construction and renovation of museum facilities. -- $20,000 to the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan for expansion of its Flint warehouse. -- $20,000 to the Michigan Nature Association, in Williamston, to support its statewide land protection campaign. -- $15,000 to Goodwill Industries of Southwestern Michigan for the relocation of its main service center in downtown Kalamazoo. -- $15,000 to the Bay Area Family YMCA to support the construction of a new building in downtown Bay City. -- $15,000 to Senior Resources of West Michigan, in Muskegon Heights, to support the creation of a multi-service senior center in Norton Shores. -- $15,000 to the Frederik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, in Grand Rapids, for renovation and expansion of its facilities. -- $12,500 to the Cadillac Area YMCA for the construction of a new YMCA facility. -- $10,000 to Senior Services Inc., of Kalamazoo, for upgrades to its senior center. -- $10,000 to the Fair Housing Center of West Michigan for renovations to its downtown Grand Rapids facility. -- $10,000 to New Dimensions, of Bay City, to support its expansion campaign. Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties. For more information about Consumers Energy, visit our Website at http://www.consumersenergy.com/ DATASOURCE: Consumers Energy CONTACT: Jeff Holyfield, +1-517-788-2394, or Dan Bishop, +1-517-788-2395, both of Consumers Energy Web site: http://www.consumersenergy.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/203850.html

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