NIPSCO employees gather to transport and deliver more than 650 donated toys to seven Toys for Tots chapters across NIPSCO's service area as part of the company's 12th annual Hope for the Holidays campaign. NIPSCO Spreads Hope for the Holiday Season Across Northwest Indiana By Vince Parisi, NIPSCO President and Chief Operating Officer In the spirit of the holidays, NIPSCO employees have a tradition that we hold near and dear. Our annual employee-driven campaign, Hope for the Holidays, is our way of making the holiday season brighter for those in need across our northern Indiana communities. Now in our 12th year, the recipe for NIPSCO's Hope for the Holidays campaign is a blend of corporate and employee donations, a dash of fundraising and a heaping serving of toys -- a lot of toys. This year, NIPSCO employees donated more than 650 new toys to seven local Toys for Tots chapters across northern Indiana. The nationwide nonprofit program organized by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve collects toys to bring the joy of the season and send a message of hope to America's economically disadvantaged children. Last year, the program as a whole achieved record-breaking numbers of collecting 25.5 million toys, books and games, benefiting 10.3 million children nationwide. We are certainly proud to be part of that impact on a * Shop with a Cop: Police officers helped individuals local scale. select holiday gifts, with Santa and Mrs. Claus attending. NIPSCO's Hope for the Holidays campaign provides * Sojourner Truth House: Supported homeless and corporate donations to various organizations that at-risk women and children with resources, includprovide invaluable programs and services across our ing a Santa Store and move-in kits. communities. This year, NIPSCO, with generous grant * The NEST Community Shelter: Provided emergency support from the NiSource Charitable Foundation, shelter and resources for homeless men, women proudly donated $110,000 to 21 organizations across and families, including a winter warming shelter. NIPSCO's service area. Our donations support women's * Trinity United Church of Christ: Provided a free and children's homes, homeless shelters, food pantries, Thanksgiving basket giveaway with turkey and Salvation Army chapters and more. The funds contribute holiday trimmings. to coat drives, holiday fundraising events and dinners, as well as to provide essential supplies like toiletries What makes this campaign particularly heartwarming is the generosity of our employees, who enthusiastically and winter warming centers to those in need. work together to participate through toy donations Some of the local organizations benefiting from our and fundraising to make a difference. Through the collective efforts of our 3,000 NIPSCO employees, campaign include: * East Chicago Housing Authority: Provided free Hope for the Holidays exemplifies our commitment to strengthening northern Indiana's communities as hams to seniors for the holidays. * Fair Haven Rape Crisis Center: Provided turkey dedicated corporate citizens. Hope for the Holidays ensures that our underserved neighbors, too, can exand all the trimmings for underserved families. * Hobart Jubilee Worship Center: Provided turkeys perience the hope, peace and joy of the holiday season. and all the trimmings for underserved families. To learn more about the ways NIPSCO * North Township Trustee: Provided coats and warm gives back, visit NIPSCO.com/givingback wear for children and adults in need.