FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 2, 2006
Media Contact:
Sunny Kim, Caritas of Austin
512-646-1261
skim[at]caritasofaustin.org

CARITAS OF AUSTIN RECEIVES $75,000
FROM TEXAS GAS SERVICE

Grant to Provide Low-Income Families
with Utility Assistance

(AUSTIN, Texas) – Caritas of Austin will receive a $75,000 grant from the ONEOK Foundation according to an announcement made today by Executive Director Beth Atherton. The grant will help fund utility assistance at the nonprofit. The ONEOK Foundation is the corporate foundation supporting Texas Gas Service communities and the other communities served by ONEOK.

“Caritas provides valuable service to our community,” said Roger Mitchell, president of Texas Gas Service. “With this grant, Caritas will be able to help more families in need with winter heating expenses.”

Caritas is Travis County’s largest source of non-governmental assistance. Last year, Caritas helped 20,000 people, but budget restraints forced them to turn away 72 people a day—more than 17,000—who requested help with paying their rent and utilities.

“Caritas is deeply indebted to Texas Gas for their vital support of our utility assistance and education programs,” said Atherton. “Our client families face tough decisions about which bills to pay, what to do without and how to pay for healthcare and emergencies. An unexpected expense such as a car repair can mean going hungry or not paying rent or utilities. Because non-payment of utilities is grounds for eviction, the threat of homelessness is a reality. This grant helps us provide client families with emergency assistance, but it also supports our longer-term programs that help clients learn skills for self-reliance.”

Texas Gas Service provides natural gas service to approximately 565,000 customers in the state of Texas including 200,000 customers in Travis County. Texas Gas Service is a division of Tulsa-based ONEOK, Inc., (NYSE: OKE), a diversified energy company and a leader in the gathering, processing, storage and transportation of natural gas in the mid-continent region of the U.S. 

The grant represents an allocation from a total $1 million home heating assistance fund designated by ONEOK Foundation for low-income residents in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. Other Texas grant recipients are located in El Paso, Weatherford, Port Arthur, Galveston and the Counties of Hidalgo, Cameron and Willacy.

Since 1964, Caritas has assisted with basic needs such as food, rent and utilities and helped clients learn the skills they need to gain self-reliance. This year, Caritas will serve over 20,000 adults and children. “Caritas” is from the Latin word for love, and in this spirit, anyone with a legitimate need is eligible to receive help.

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