By Amit Mallik, Northwestern Correspondent
Northwestern Athletics has partnered this year with Dynegy Energy Services to encourage local non-profit organizations to attend football and basketball games as the Community Group of the Game.
Dynegy has sponsored the Community Group of the Game at all football home games and will do so at six men's basketball games throughout the 2015-16 season. Members of each local non-profit community group receive admission to the game, a meal voucher and airtime on the big screen as the featured Group of the Game.
"Sponsoring the Community Group of the Game supports Dynegy's mission of "Energizing you, Powering our Communities," said Mark Fanning, managing director of retail business operations at Dynegy. "Dynegy, through its Homefield Energy brand, has been serving the residents and small businesses of Evanston since August 2014. Dynegy actively seeks opportunities that make a difference in the lives of residents and we will continue to do so."
Dynegy has helped multiple organizations attend football games this season at Ryan Field including: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Misericordia Chicago, Youth & Opportunity United, Chicago Youth Sports Alliance, Family Focus, and the Northwestern University chapter of Special Olympics. The groups are a mix of Chicago and Evanston based organizations.
As an energy company that often tends to be less public by nature, Dynegy has used its connection with Northwestern to become a visible positive force in the Evanston community and for Northwestern fans. In addition to its corporate partnership with the University, Dynegy's partnership with Northwestern Athletics has stressed the importance of strengthening the larger community.
"Dynegy feels it is important that we are part of the fabric of the communities where we operate," Fanning said. "It allows us to get to know the communities and their residents so that we can make that difference whether through our support of their non-profits and educational initiatives or saving them money on their electricity."
Northwestern Athletics connects with the community groups in many ways throughout the year, including a fundraising race for Big Brothers Big Sisters and a canned food drive for Family Focus. The three-year partnership with Dynegy gives Northwestern Athletics more opportunity to continue its mission of supporting Evanston and Chicago area youth groups.
Dynegy enjoys its increased recognition from its partnership with Northwestern and the opportunity it provides them to maintain a dual role as leaders in energy and the community.
"We must continue to prove each and every day that we want and will continue to be there for our partners and customers," Fanning said.
Northwestern Athletics has partnered this year with Dynegy Energy Services to encourage local non-profit organizations to attend football and basketball games as the Community Group of the Game.
Dynegy has sponsored the Community Group of the Game at all football home games and will do so at six men's basketball games throughout the 2015-16 season. Members of each local non-profit community group receive admission to the game, a meal voucher and airtime on the big screen as the featured Group of the Game.
"Sponsoring the Community Group of the Game supports Dynegy's mission of "Energizing you, Powering our Communities," said Mark Fanning, managing director of retail business operations at Dynegy. "Dynegy, through its Homefield Energy brand, has been serving the residents and small businesses of Evanston since August 2014. Dynegy actively seeks opportunities that make a difference in the lives of residents and we will continue to do so."
Dynegy has helped multiple organizations attend football games this season at Ryan Field including: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Misericordia Chicago, Youth & Opportunity United, Chicago Youth Sports Alliance, Family Focus, and the Northwestern University chapter of Special Olympics. The groups are a mix of Chicago and Evanston based organizations.
As an energy company that often tends to be less public by nature, Dynegy has used its connection with Northwestern to become a visible positive force in the Evanston community and for Northwestern fans. In addition to its corporate partnership with the University, Dynegy's partnership with Northwestern Athletics has stressed the importance of strengthening the larger community.
"Dynegy feels it is important that we are part of the fabric of the communities where we operate," Fanning said. "It allows us to get to know the communities and their residents so that we can make that difference whether through our support of their non-profits and educational initiatives or saving them money on their electricity."
Northwestern Athletics connects with the community groups in many ways throughout the year, including a fundraising race for Big Brothers Big Sisters and a canned food drive for Family Focus. The three-year partnership with Dynegy gives Northwestern Athletics more opportunity to continue its mission of supporting Evanston and Chicago area youth groups.
Dynegy enjoys its increased recognition from its partnership with Northwestern and the opportunity it provides them to maintain a dual role as leaders in energy and the community.
"We must continue to prove each and every day that we want and will continue to be there for our partners and customers," Fanning said.