Cleco awards Hope for Opelousas $60,000

PINEVILLE, La., Dec. 20, 2017 – Today, Cleco awarded Hope for Opelousas a $60,000 grant to continue its mission of serving students in first through 12th grades through tutoring programs, enrichment opportunities, employment, mentoring and community service projects. 

“Hope for Opelousas is entering its ninth year of service in the city of Opelousas, and Cleco has been a supporter since the very beginning,” said Bill Fontenot, interim CEO of Cleco Power.  “We understand that an investment in our children is an investment in not only their future but also in our future workforce.”

“As Hope for Opelousas plans for the future, we look at not only the sustainability of our programs, but enriching the services we provide,” said Loren Carriere, Hope for Opelousas executive director.  “With Cleco funds, we are excited to grow our programming by 25 students in 2018. With this growth we will now serve 100 students and their families with our wrap around programming.”

Cleco has a long history of philanthropic involvement across its 24-parish service territory.  In 2017, Cleco contributed nearly $1 million to non-profit organizations across the state. 

“We are proud to support the life changing work these agencies are doing to benefit our customers and communities,” said Fontenot.

Cleco is a regional energy company that conducts substantially all of its business operation through its primary subsidiary, Cleco Power. Cleco Power is a regulated electric utility company that owns nine generating units with a total nameplate capacity of 3,310 MWs and serves approximately 288,000 customers in Louisiana through its retail business and supplies wholesale power in Louisiana and Mississippi.  For more information about Cleco, visit www.cleco.com or follow us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/ClecoPower.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Cahill

318-484-7411