MLK Day of Service is A Day On, Not Off for Georgia Power

ATLANTA, Jan. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Each year, Georgia Power honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s commitment to transform communities through volunteering by engaging more than 1,000 employees in community service projects across the state on the MLK Day of Service. The annual event is the company's largest single day of service rallying employees throughout the company around Georgia Power's century-old mission to "be a citizen wherever we serve."

Since 2005, more than 11,000 Georgia Power employees have volunteered for approximately 525 individual MLK Day of Service projects, totaling more than 46,000 service hours. These volunteer efforts equate to nearly $1 million in estimated hourly service value.

"The Martin Luther King Jr. holiday commemorates the legacy of an exemplary leader who, even today, reminds us that every community matters," said Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "I am proud of our team for putting service before self and honoring Dr. King with a day 'on,' not 'off' to improve the lives of others and strengthen our local communities."

Georgia Power service events are highly localized with employees volunteering at nearly 50 events for a variety of causes and organizations in dozens of Georgia cities and towns. 2017 events include:

• Assisting the Atlanta Police Foundation in a field day event for Atlanta's youth at the Georgia Dome (Atlanta)
• Landscaping and yard work at Lydia Project House (Augusta)
• Cleaning refrigerators, cabinets and ripping up carpet at Liberty House of Albany (Albany)
• Planting 30,000 daffodils at the Loop 10/Prince Ave exit ramp at Lay Park (Athens)
• Cleaning, sorting and organizing donations at the Statesboro Food Bank (Statesboro)

A Culture of Citizenship

Georgia Power employees place a focus on community service year round including companywide engagement in Earth Day, March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life program. In addition, current employees and retirees (known as Georgia Power Ambassadors), identify and support various local causes and organizations which directly benefit their neighborhoods and communities. To learn more about Georgia Power's commitment to citizenship throughout Georgia, visit www.georgiapower.com/community.

About Georgia Power

Georgia Power is the largest electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.5 million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse, innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, 21st century coal and natural gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind. Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook (Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower) and Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower).

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SOURCE Georgia Power