Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. takes special pride in its work with the educational community through its PP&L 2000 program.

Started in 1992, PP&L 2000 enables the company to work in partnership with schools and communities to help prepare graduates for the rapidly changing workplace of the 21st century.

Today, more than 300 PP&L employee and retiree volunteers serve in nearly 35 partnership schools throughout the company's 29-county service area. Volunteers share knowledge, caring and time with students to help them become successful learners.

"A good education is critical for success -- not only for individuals but for our communities as well," said Lou Ramos, PP&L's manager of Community Affairs. He spoke at PP&L 2000's fourth annual conference in White Haven today (3/28). "A good education is important for individuals to achieve in life.

"PP&L's corporate commitment reinforces the vision of education shared by communities throughout the country as they focus on meeting the eight goals set forth under the national Goals 2000 program.

"At PP&L, we are sending volunteers into our schools, we are working on education reform through community partnerships, and we are making a difference in education in Central Eastern Pennsylvania," he said.

About 150 employees and partnership school representatives attended the conference to focus on the valuable contributions PP&L employee and retiree volunteers bring to schools and communities.

Conference speakers included PP&L Chairman William F. Hecht; Holly Jobe, instructional material services director at the Montgomery County I.U. #23; and Mike Montgomery, PP&L's manager of Economic Development and Community Affairs. Other presenters included students from PP&L's partnerships with Cleveland Elementary School in Allentown, and Dauphin County Technical School in Harrisburg; and a teacher in the Hazleton School District who spent her sabbatical working at PP&L's Susquehanna Nuclear Training Center in Berwick last year.

A new corporate PP&L 2000 video also was unveiled. It will be used to promote the program within the company and its communities.

PP&L 2000's partnership activities include tutoring, mentoring, participating on school-based committees, energy education, environmental education and safety programs. Volunteers are involved in career counseling through Shadow Day programs at PP&L, career awareness through a unique electronic pen pal program with sixth graders, Junior Achievement, Scouting Exploring programs, the Adult Literacy Council and the Hispanic American Organization, to name a few examples.