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NEW Customer Service Companies Partners With Loudoun Cares, the Local Faith Community and the Department of Social Services to Keep Families Warm This Winter

Posted on: Thursday, 1 December 2005, 18:00 CST

N.E.W. Customer Service Companies, Inc. (NEW) will make a $5,000 donation to Loudoun Cares. The donation is an effort to ramp up an even larger community response that will help families struggling to pay winter heating bills. The check will be presented at NEW's corporate headquarters in Dulles, Virginia on Wednesday, December 7th at 10:15 am.

Through this donation the NEW Charitable Foundation is responding to the well-publicized need for increased winter fuel assistance for low income families. On average, households heating primarily with natural gas can expect to spend about $350 (48 percent) more this winter on fuel. Households heating primarily with heating oil can expect to pay, on average, $378 (32 percent) more this winter. These increases will result in more cutoffs unless there is a coordinated effort to address the need.

Andy Johnston, the executive director of Loudoun Cares believes that other businesses and faith entities will understand the need and contribute to the fund as well. "NEW is helping us raise awareness about this looming crisis and showing the kind of philanthropic leadership that encourages others to step up and make a difference."

Already several local churches have risen to the challenge. Saint Gabriel's Episcopal, Crossroads United Methodist and Potomac Falls Episcopal have all agreed to contribute to the fuel assistance fund as part of their on going missions to help those in need. Johnston believes that as the word gets around others from the business and faith communities will rally to make sure local residents stay warm.

The coalition supporting the Loudoun Cares Utility Fund is rounded out with a government partner. Staff at the Loudoun County Department of Social Services will conduct income eligibility reviews to screen families that seek fuel assistance.

Fred Schaufeld, chairman and CEO of NEW, comments on the impact of high fuel costs, "High fuel prices have affected everyone's wallet. But, it's a real financial crisis for lower income families in the County who are struggling to pay their heating bills." Schaufeld continues, "As members of the Loudoun County community, we can't sit idle and watch while our families go without heat this winter. And this donation to Loudoun Cares is going to make a difference in keeping families warm and we hope that other leaders in the community contribute to this cause."

About NEW

N.E.W. Customer Service Companies, Inc. (NEW) (www.newcorp.com) is the nation's leading provider of extended service plans, buyer protection services and product support for businesses and consumers. With more than 20 years experience, NEW provides exceptional post-sale consumer care for many of the nation's largest retailers, manufacturers, utilities and financial services firms, providing coverage last year to more than 100 million consumers. Through its commitment to customer care, NEW delivers ongoing revenue, unrivaled customer support, seamless service administration and the competitive edge needed to succeed in a rapidly changing marketplace. This philosophy has positioned the company as the leader in the marketing and administration of extended service plans and other value-added buyer protection and information services.

NEW is headquartered in Dulles, VA, and operates eight communication centers. NEW has over 2400 employees nationwide. For more information, please visit NEW at www.newcorp.com or call 1-800 WHAT'S NEW (1-800-942-8763).

About Loudoun Cares

The Loudoun Cares mission is: to create and sustain an innovative nonprofit human service center that includes comprehensive information and referral services benefiting Loudoun residents. Our partner agencies include: American Red Cross - Loudoun Loudoun Interfaith Relief Brain Injury Services Loudoun Literacy Council Fresh Air / Full Care Loudoun Volunteer Caregivers Friends of Loudoun Mental Health Legal Services of Northern Virginia The Good Shepherd Alliance MotherNet Healthy Families Loudoun La Voz OAR of Fairfax Loudoun Community Free Clinic

And Loudoun Cares operates the information and referral telephone helpline (703-669-INFO) that links area residents seeking information about health and human services with the agencies and programs that can best help them. Visit www.loudouncares.org to learn more.

(c) 2005 N.E.W. Customer Service Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.

Source: Business Wire

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