PHONE COMPANY, RETIREES GIVE $45,000

About $45,000 has been made available to communities in Southeast Missouri to help with flood cleanup. Telephone Pioneers, a service organization of active and retired employees of Southwestern Bell Telephone and AT&T, donated $30,000, with an additional $15,000 given by Southwestern Bell Telephone.

The contribution was presented to Heartland Cares, a flood relief effort coordinated by KFVS-TV.

Similar contributions are being made around the state to communities hard-hit by the flood. In all, the Telephone Pioneers will give over $120,000 for flood relief and Southwestern Bell will donate an additional $40,000.

Southwestern Bell contributed $50,000 directly to the American Red Cross and Southwestern Bell Foundation, a private foundation funded by Southwestern Bell Corp., contributed $100,000 directly to the Salvation Army in July.

"It is a double pleasure to be giving this money to Heartland Cares, as it represents not only a contribution from Southwestern Bell Telephone, but also directly from our employees and retirees - and those from AT&T - who have given generously to the Telephone Pioneer fund," said Donna Burk, area manager of Southwestern Bell.

"The employees have worked vigilantly to keep communications going through this difficult period in service to their companies, but they have also taken the time to search their hearts, extend their hands and dig into their pockets in service to their communities as well," she said.

The donations will be distributed in the following communities: $15,000 to Cape Girardeau, $11,250 to Ste. Genevieve, $11,250 to Perryville, and $7,500 to Commerce.

The money will be divided between the Red Cross and Salvation Army.