For more information, contact: Rob Arrol, rarrol@lacledegas.com, 314-342-0654 

St. Louis (November 29, 2007) - Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon will once again serve as an ambassador for Dollar-Help, Inc., a not-for-profit which helps pay heating bills for low income families throughout the St. Louis metropolitan area. Witherspoon visited Tillman Elementary in 2006 and was a speaker at the charity's 25^th anniversary in September 2007.

Witherspoon has recorded a series of public service announcements and will be making an appearance at a local elementary school to promote Dollar-Help's Warmthgiving campaign (which begins Dec. 1 and lasts through 23).  Warmthgiving encourages young people throughout the region to set up hot chocolate stands to raise money and awareness for those in need. Witherspoon will discuss the campaign with approximately two hundred 3^rd through 5^th graders. 

"On the field, I call the defensive plays.  Today, I'm making a call on behalf of those whose voices are not always heard," Witherspoon said.  "The cold winter days and nights are especially hard on children and the elderly.  We can all do our part to keep everyone warm this winter by supporting Dollar-Help."

"We celebrated 25 years of service earlier this year and for the first time in the charity's history we raised over one million dollars in contributions," said Dollar-Help President Dennis Kelley.  "Still, the need for energy assistance persists.  Every year we see an increasing number of families that rely on us to pay their heating bills. We are very happy to have the support of Will Witherspoon and the St. Louis Rams. Their involvement will jump-start the winter season and drive awareness of Dollar-Help's Warmthgiving campaign." 

Young people interested in hosting a Warmthgiving hot chocolate stand are encouraged, with their parents' permission, to visit www.dollarhelp.org for information on the campaign; including, guidance and promotional materials for running a stand.  The individual who raises the most money will win an Xbox, which has been donated by Dierbergs, a Dollar-Help partner.

There are five ways to make a tax-deductible donation to Dollar-Help:

1. Check a Red Box on your natural gas bill:  This authorizes Laclede Gas or its subsidiary, Missouri Natural Gas, to automatically add a $1, 2 or 5 monthly contribution to your gas bill.
2. Automatic Giving:  Log on to www.dollarhelp.org or call Laclede Gas/Missouri Natural Gas to automatically give more than $1 per month.
3. Overpayment of $1:  Overpay your Laclede Gas/Missouri Natural Gas bill by $1, and that amount will automatically go to Dollar-Help.
4. Bequests:  Include Dollar-Help in your will.
5. Anyone may give:  Make a direct contribution by sending a check to Dollar-Help, Inc., c/o Cass Bank, P.O. Box 330, St. Louis, MO  63166.

About Dollar-Help

Dollar-Help, Inc. is a non-profit corporation that works with social service agencies in Eastern Missouri to provide financial assistance to people who cannot pay their heating bills.  The administration of the donations by Dollar-Help directors, with the voluntary assistance of social service organizations and energy vendors, as well as Laclede Gas' contribution of administrative and support services, make it possible for every dollar donated to Dollar-Help to go to qualified recipient households.

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