LSU Tigers and United Way Win Big
Ohio State Fan Learns Never to Bet Against the Home Team

LAUW President Charmaine Caccioppi accepts a check from American Electric Power's CEO Mike Morris.

Locals had something to cheer about when the hometown favorite LSU Tigers won the BCS National Championship in New Orleans last January. With a 38-24 win over Ohio State, United Way supporters have something to cheer about, too!

Mike Morris, CEO OF American Electric Power (AEP) and avid Ohio State fan, gambled on the OSU Buckeyes to win the Championship Game.  Morris bet AEP employees in the Louisiana Headquarters Operation that he would match any dollar amount the employees raised in their office; the money would go to the winning team’s United Way state association in either Ohio or Louisiana.

Morris quickly learned that he should never bet against the LSU Fighting Tigers when they play in the New Orleans Superdome.

After OSU lost, Morris came to Louisiana to keep his end of the bargain. Showered by purple and gold, Morris presented the Louisiana Association of United Ways (LAUW) with a check donation of $1,310 on March 11th at the AEP Louisiana Headquarters in Convent.

“It is important to support your community and there is no better way to do so than through United Way.  They fund programs that have a profound community impact,” said Morris, a long time supporter of United Way and current United Way Campaign Chairman for the Ohio United Way. 

The CEO also announced that AEP would kick off the United Way campaign this summer and that they want to designate money to go to LAUW in order to help support St. John Parish, St. James Parish, Baton Rouge, New Orleans and Plaquemines Parish, areas in which AEP has a physical presence.  AEP is also has plans for co-sponsorship opportunities, Foundation Grant funding for major initiatives and opportunities to match contributions made within Louisiana by all employees (there are approximately 4,000 AEP employees that can contribute).

Betting on football isn’t the only way to donate to your local United Way!  For more information about United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area and its work in the community, please visit www.unitedwaynola.org.