Georgia Power honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s commitment to transform communities through volunteering by engaging more than 1,000 employees in community service projects across the state on the MLK Day of Service. This widespread effort builds on the company's record-breaking 110,000 volunteer hours in 2015 and reinforces Georgia Power's commitment to "being a citizen wherever we serve."

"Dr. King's belief in service to all resonates strongly throughout Georgia and the best way to honor his legacy is through volunteering and making a positive impact in the communities we serve," said Paul Bowers, chairman, president and CEO of Georgia Power. "MLK Day of Service continues to be a day on, not a day off, for Georgia Power employees across the state."

This year, employee volunteers are expected to host or participate in approximately 40 separate MLK Day of Service projects in diverse communities all over Georgia. Events include:

• Assembling food pantry boxes at Northeast Georgia Food Bank (Gainesville)

• Painting the facilities at Raintree Village Children and Family Services (Valdosta)

• Constructing beds for women and children's shelters at i-CARE Project Warehouse (Grovetown)

• Providing community, educational and inspirational programs to senior citizens at Lutheran Towers (Atlanta)

Since 2005, more than 10,600 Georgia Power employees have volunteered for approximately 470 individual MLK Day of Service projects, totaling 42,000 total service hours. These volunteer efforts equate to more than $900,000 in hourly service value.

A Culture of Citizenship
Although the MLK Day of Service is the company's largest single day of volunteering, Georgia Power employees place a focus on community service year round including companywide engagement in Earth Day, March of Dimes and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life program. In addition, current employees and retirees (known as Georgia Power Ambassadors), identify and support various local causes and organizations which directly benefit their neighborhoods and communities. To learn more about Georgia Power's commitment to citizenship throughout Georgia, visit www.georgiapower.com/community.