SALT LAKE CITY — Seventeen Utah nonprofit agencies received gifts early this holiday season, adding up to a total of $61,000 from the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning, the charitable arm of Utah Power. The organizations were chosen to receive donations by Utah Power employees and project teams, as a part of the company’s annual Spirit of Excellence employee recognition program.

Fifty community agencies across six Western states are receiving a total of $114,000, thanks to 2004-05 Spirit of Excellence Award recipients. The majority of this funding will go toward serving children’s needs, and providing assistance for medical organizations and social service agencies.

“We have a rather unique program that allows employees who have demonstrated excellence in their work to decide which organizations will receive contributions from the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning,” said Rich Walje, Utah Power president and chairman of the Foundation board. “This gives top-performing Utah Power employees an opportunity to help decide how a portion of the company’s charitable giving will be allocated in the communities they live and work in.”

In Utah this year, the largest donation went to Primary Children’s Medical Center which was chosen by six Spirit of Excellence award-winning teams to receive a combined $14,500. Three other Utah agencies also received more than $5,000, including the Huntsman Cancer Institute ($6,000), Prevent Child Abuse Utah ($6,000) and Emery County Care and Rehabilitation Center ($9,000).

Other organizations across the state to receive funding through the Sprit of Excellence program were The Road Home, YWCA of Salt Lake/Battered Women’s Center, National Federation of the Blind of Utah, Junior Achievement of Utah, LDS Humanitarian Aid, Foundation for Children and Youth with Diabetes, Crossroads Urban Center, Motheread/Fatheread Utah, Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake, Boys and Girls Clubs of Brigham City/Box Elder County, Boys and Girls Clubs of Cache County, Castle Valley Center, Wasatch and Summit County Children’s Justice Center. 

About the PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning

The PacifiCorp Foundation for Learning  was created and incorporated as a corporate foundation in 1988 in order to become the major channel of philanthropy for PacifiCorp, Utah Power and Pacific Power. PacifiCorp and its employees have a long tradition of active involvement in the communities served by Utah Power, including charitable contributions, sponsorships of community events and in-kind donations. For additional information, visitwww.pacificorpfoundation.org .

Media inquiries: newsdesk@pacificorp.com