“Concern for Community” is one of the 7 Cooperative Principles, but North Western Electric Cooperative (NWEC) takes that commitment a step further. On August 7, NWEC sponsored the Touchstone Energy® hot air balloon at the United Way’s Defiance County Hot Air Balloon Festival, a fundraising event for the Community Engagement Center.

In addition to the participation in the festival, NWEC also presented a $1,050 donation to the Defiance County Agricultural Society as a result of the balloon’s appearance, a sign of the co-op’s commitment to community and desire to empower its members’ quality of life.

The balloon was introduced in 2000 by Touchstone Energy® as a goodwill ambassador for Touchstone Energy Cooperatives across the country. The brand’s identity and core values — integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community — are promoted through the balloon and its professional team wherever and whenever the balloon is flying nationwide.

The Touchstone Energy balloon is designed to provide a highly visible means of demonstrating good corporate citizenship at local civic and philanthropic events. Every day that the balloon participates in an event on behalf of the local sponsoring Touchstone Energy cooperative, a monetary contribution is made to a local charity of their choice.

Touchstone Energy Cooperatives are a national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric utilities across the country committed to providing high standards of service to customers large and small. More than 750 Touchstone Energy Cooperatives in 46 states are delivering energy and energy solutions to about 32 million consumer-members every day.