JACKSON, Mich., Dec. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumers Energy employees in Jackson today presented a $5,000 grant from the company's foundation to the Jackson Interfaith Shelter, one of several financial grants that employees are sharing with Michigan nonprofit organizations to celebrate ethics awards they have received.

Employees at the company's Laboratory Services facility earned the chance to select a local nonprofit organization to receive a grant by winning the grand prize in Consumers Energy's companywide Ethics in Action awards. The awards recognize employees who display the highest commitment to compliance and ethical standards.

Laboratory Services management and Consumers Energy senior executives presented the $5,000 check to Jackson Interfaith Shelter representatives at a ceremony at the facility.

"Giving back is a major component of what it means to function as a highly ethical and sustainable company," said David Mengebier, chief compliance officer for Consumers Energy.

The Jackson Interfaith Shelter works with the homeless and others in need, providing them with emergency shelter and prepared meals, and assisting with other physical, emotional and spiritual needs.

About 80 employees work at the Laboratory Services facility, built in 1910 to perform chemical tests on coal used by generating plants. Today, Laboratory Services analyzes water and soil samples for environmental compliance; conducts stack emission testing; calibrates a wide range of testing equipment; and performs radiography, materials property testing and failure analysis.

In addition to Laboratory Services, Consumers Energy honored the Zeeland Generating Station and the Dearborn Industrial Generation (DIG) facility, owned and operated by CMS Enterprises, as finalists. Both selected local nonprofits to receive $1,000 grants.

Also recognized were eight individual employees, who selected local nonprofits to receive $250 grants. The employees are based at Consumers Energy facilities in Grand Rapids, Midland, Howell, Jackson, Bay County and Charlevoix County, and a facility owned by CMS Enterprises in North Carolina.

"We're proud to recognize these employees who work each day to help us promote a strong culture of ethics and compliance," Mengebier said. "And we're pleased their good work is making a difference in the communities where they live and work."

Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS), provides natural gas and electricity to 6.5 million of Michigan's 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

For more information about Consumers Energy, go to www.ConsumersEnergy.com, join us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ConsumersEnergyMichigan and follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/ConsumersEnergy.

Giving Back

Consumers Energy's Ethics in Action Award winners selected nonprofit organizations to receive grants:

Laboratory Services ($5,000)
Jackson Interfaith Shelter
Zeeland Generating Station ($1,000)
The Hope Project Inc.
DIG ($1,000)
Habitat for Humanity Detroit

Individual employees ($250 each):
Don Idzior (Jackson)
Birthline of Jackson
Kimberly Jebb (Bay County)
Support Our Troops
Keith Smith (Charlevoix County)
Front Range Hippotherapy
Richard Snyder (Howell)
AMVETS National Service Foundation
Brad Steere (Midland)
Fibrous Dysplasia Foundation
James Walker (Jackson)
St. Vincent DePaul - Queens Miraculous Medal Church
Jimmy Whitford (North Carolina)
Little Swift Creek Volunteer Fire Department
Leon Wysocki (Grand Rapids)
Senior Meals on Wheels

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SOURCE Consumers Energy