WGL Energy Partners with Children’s National to Light Up Washington Region through ‘Light Up Dr. Bear’ Donation Campaign

This holiday season, WGL Energy Services, Inc. (WGL Energy) will serve as the exclusive campaign ‘matching partner’ of the Light Up Dr. Bear campaign launched by Children’s National, the Washington, D.C. region’s pediatric hospital. The innovative fundraising campaign features special ‘light up bears’ that illuminate with bright colors when a donation is made using text or online giving options. The bears, tailor-made to resemble the hospital’s iconic Dr. Bear mascot, will be placed in local communities in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, and within Children’s National’s main campus and outpatient clinics.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20181128005173/en/

Members of the WGL Energy team visit Children’s National hospital in Washington, D.C. to kick off th ...

Members of the WGL Energy team visit Children’s National hospital in Washington, D.C. to kick off the Light Up Dr. Bear fundraising campaign in support of pediatric care this holiday season. WGL Energy serves as the exclusive campaign matching partner. (Photo: Business Wire)

In total, 316 bears are displayed across the D.C. region, one for each bed in the Children’s National main hospital. The bears come in 4-foot and 12-inch versions and are accompanied by step-by-step instructions on how to make a gift using text-to-donate technology. Bears are positioned in the hospital at nursing stations, in the cafeteria, and in its Costco Wholesale Atrium so the thousands of people who walk through the Children’s National halls every day can witness the bears shine with each donation and reflect on the generous spirit they represent.

WGL Energy is underwriting the production, installation and maintenance cost of all bears placed at Children’s National and throughout the region, in addition to contributing volunteer time, community service outreach and other areas of support. The campaign runs through December 31, 2018.

The end-of-year initiative aims to inspire, encourage and motivate members of the D.C. metro region to contribute to young patients and families being cared for by the largest and most comprehensive pediatric hospital in the mid-Atlantic region.

“WGL Energy is delighted to partner with Children’s National and be associated with a bold philanthropic effort that will be seen and experienced by millions in the Washington, D.C. metro region and help thousands of children and families grow up stronger,” said Tony Nee, vice president of strategy, business development and non-utility operations at WGL, the parent company of WGL Energy. “We look forward to assisting a program that gets to the heart of our corporate values of giving back to the community and supporting those in need.”

“Children’s National is proud to launch a campaign showcasing the generosity of our community in a dynamic and engaging way,” said DeAnn Marshall, MHA, president of Children’s Hospital Foundation. “We are thrilled to align with WGL Energy in this campaign, allowing our donors, patients, parents and staff members to see each gift light up our surrounding community and the everyday lives of our area’s children. We encourage everyone to participate in the campaign by making a donation of any size to help children grow up stronger.”

WGL Energy, based in Northern Virginia, delivers a full spectrum of energy offerings, such as electricity, natural gas, renewable energy, carbon reduction, distributed generation and energy efficiency solutions, in territories that include the mid-Atlantic.

As part of the sponsorship, the tagline “Powered by WGL Energy” will appear on the instruction panel of approximately 300 bears in market from mid-November through December 31, 2018. Children’s National will also recognize WGL Energy for its generosity as its exclusive campaign ‘matching partner’ by promoting portions of WGL Energy’s gift as a challenge match to draw even greater support from the community. To make a donation or find a bear, visit ChildrensNational.org/Light or text Light10 to 50555 to send a gift.

About WGL and WGL Energy

The WGL family of companies − Washington Gas, WGL Energy, WGL Midstream and Hampshire Gas − are now indirect, wholly-owned subsidiaries of AltaGas Ltd. WGL is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is a leading source for clean, efficient and diverse energy solutions. With activities and assets across the U.S., WGL provides options for natural gas, electricity, green power and energy services, including generation, storage, transportation, distribution, supply and efficiency. Our calling as a company is to make energy surprisingly easy for our employees, our community and all our customers. Whether you are a homeowner or renter, small business or multinational corporation, state and local or federal agency, WGL is here to provide Energy Answers. Ask Us. For more information, visit us at wgl.com and @wglanswers.

WGL Energy delivers a full spectrum of energy offerings, including electricity, natural gas, renewable energy, carbon reduction, distributed generation and energy efficiency solutions provided by WGL Energy Services, Inc. and WGL Energy Systems, Inc. To learn more, visit us at www.wglenergy.com. Follow us at @wglenergy on Twitter and WGL Energy on LinkedIn.

About Children's National Health System

Children’s National Health System, based in Washington, D.C., has served the nation’s children since 1870. Children’s National is one of the nation’s Top 5 pediatric hospitals and, for a second straight year, is ranked No. 1 in newborn care, as well as ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. It has been designated two times as a Magnet® hospital, a designation given to hospitals that demonstrate the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty outpatient centers in the D.C. Metropolitan area, including the Maryland suburbs and Northern Virginia. Home to the Children’s Research Institute and the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation, Children’s National is the seventh-highest NIH-funded pediatric institution in the nation. Children’s National is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels.