Superman doesn’t hold a candle to the men and women who serve our communities every day as police officers, fire fighters, sheriff’s deputies and emergency medical workers. Each time they answer a call, they demonstrate a tremendous amount of bravery and commitment to help those in need. We all depend on their aid. And now Southwestern Energy is celebrating their service through our new Everyday Heroes grant program.

“Everyday Heroes has been a terrific program for us,” said George Sheffer Vice President, Exploration and Production Services. “It allows us to support and enrich the services of organizations that are committed to serving and protecting communities where we work,” he added.

“Volunteer and public safety organizations protect the things we value most in life, and it is because of that contribution that we are honoring them.” The program began in the Fayetteville Shale play in central Arkansas where representatives from our Conway office hosted 33 fire departments at appreciation dinners in six counties. Contributions to 15 police and sheriffs’ departments soon followed as the program expanded to include additional safety organizations. The company didn’t stop there. Following two bouts of tornadoes in Arkansas in 2008, we expanded the program again to include offices of emergency management in counties affected by the storms. Finally, contributions were made to ambulance services in two counties. More than $144,000 was donated through the program in the Fayetteville Shale play area last year.

“We are grateful to Southwestern Energy for their generosity to the fire departments in our state,” said Charles Gangluff, Manager, Resource Conservation and Development Council Rural Fire Protection Program. “Safety is one of our main concerns, and we appreciate the great working relationship we have with this company. It is vital to our operations that we understand each other and work together to create a safe place for our families and our communities,” he added.

During the summer of 2008 the program expanded again to include fire departments in western Arkansas’ Arkoma Basin where the company hosted more than 120 fire fighters from 38 departments for an appreciation dinner in Franklin County. After a brief training on the company’s operations, the Arkoma team presented departments with $19,000 in donations. Combined with the donations to departments in the Fayetteville Shale play, the company has contributed more than $295,000 through Everyday Heroes.

The funds allow recipients to purchase tools important to their work including ballistics vests, radio equipment and life-saving devices for medical calls. “The response to the program has been tremendous,” Sheffer added. “Our grant recipients are incredibly grateful for the contributions and for the partnerships we’re building with them.” At Southwestern Energy, we’re dedicated to helping the communities where we work. Everyday Heroes is another great example of that commitment.