Powerful Choice Challenge winner

News Release: October 25, 2017

Tucson, Ariz. – The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is the top vote-getter in Tucson Electric Power’s (TEP) Powerful Choice Challenge, earning a $125,000 charitable contribution in celebration of the company’s 125 years of service to the community.

The Community Food Bank received 5,450 votes, 2,113 more than the next highest finisher among five charities participating in the 10-day contest, which began Oct. 16 and ended at 6 a.m. this morning. Adults living or working in TEP’s service area were invited to vote once per day to determine which agency would receive the grand prize.

TEP’s donation will support the Food Bank’s Caridad Community Kitchen, which provides culinary and job skills training to limited-income individuals. The program prepares more than 150,000 nutritious meals annually for children, seniors, the homeless and the working poor.

Runners-up in the Powerful Choice Challenge also will receive donations from TEP based on the number of votes they received, as listed below:

  • Second place: Tucson Values Teachers, 3,337 votes, $20,000
  • Third place: Junior Achievement of Arizona, 2,251 votes, $10,000
  • Fourth place: Primavera Foundation, 1,896 votes, $5,000
  • Fifth place: Habitat for Humanity Tucson, 1,469 votes, $5,000

“TEP is proud to support these five organizations. Their remarkable efforts and programs enrich and improve the quality of life in our community,” said TEP President and CEO David G. Hutchens, who presented a ceremonial check today to the Community Food Bank.

The Powerful Choice Challenge is just part of TEP’s philanthropic investment in Southern Arizona. TEP will contribute about $1.5 million this year to local charities from corporate resources, not customers’ rates. The company also contributes significant in-kind support, and employees volunteer thousands of hours each year to causes across our community.

TEP serves nearly 420,000 customers in Southern Arizona. TEP and its parent company, UNS Energy, are subsidiaries of Fortis Inc., which owns utilities that serve more than 3 million customers across Canada and in the United States and the Caribbean. For more information, visit tep.com.


Media Contact: Sherri Cadeaux, (520) 884-3923, scadeaux@tep.com

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