Three local companies also received recognition for energy efficiency.
The Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce has received a $5,000 donation that will help pay for chamber-sponsored events throughout the year, the chamber announced Monday.
First Niagara Bank made the donation. Lance Colondo, the bank’s assistant vice president and branch manager, said in a statement it serves as an example of the effort the bank’s made to give back to the local community. Colondo serves on the chamber’s board.
The events the chamber sponsors include the annual dinner dance and clam bake. Proceeds from these events will allow the chamber to in turn donate money to the Nazareth Area Food Bank and The Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen, the latter of which serves both the Nazareth and Bath areas, according to a news release.
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DeSales University junior and senior accounting students are offering free tax preparation assistance to senior citizens and those with lower incomes this tax season, the Upper Saucon Township-based university announced this week.
The program runs Jan. 28 through April 5 and is part of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Students are required to pass a test administered by the IRS before receiving certification to participate in the program. DeSales students have been participating for more than a decade, according to a news release.
Those who wish to schedule an appointment can do so by calling 610-282-1100, ext. 1868.
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Three Lehigh Valley companies have been selected as winners of the Keystone Award for Leadership in Energy Management.
Air Products in Upper Macungie Township, Hercules Cement in Stockertown and East Coast Oxygen in Bethlehem will receive $10,000 checks to donate to a charity of their choice as a result of the recognition, according to a news release. Check presentations are scheduled for each company during luncheons in the next two weeks.
The news release says the award “recognizes Pennsylvania organizations that demonstrate a unique commitment to helping electric grid reliability in Pennsylvania.”
It is administered by EnerNOC, which stands for Energy Network Operations Center. EnerNOC is a corporation that helps businesses and other institutions become more energy efficient.