Heisse Johnson Hand Up Program
The Heisse Johnson Hand Up Program, formerly the Heisse Johnson Keeping Warm Program, provides an opportunity for you to help others. Through the Heisse Johnson Hand Up Program, we invite you to contribute a minimum of $1.00 each month in addition to paying your monthly energy bill. Heisse Johnson Hand Up Program funds are collected by BrightRidge and distributed by the Good Samaritan Ministries and Salvation Army to individuals who may need financial assistance to pay their energy bill.
-
Heisse Johnson Program History
The Heisse Johnson Keeping Warm Fund has been providing assistance to individuals in need of financial help with their energy bills since 1989. The program was a result of the vision of Rev. Dr. Heisse Johnson and many other dedicated individuals who had a passion for helping others. Rev. Dr. Johnson worked diligently for almost four years coordinating the partnership between BrightRidge, Atmos Energy, various ministers located in Johnson City, Good Samaritan Ministries, and the Salvation Army to organize the Heisse Johnson Keeping Warm Fund. These agencies work closely to avoid duplication of services and to ensure the system is not abused.
Annual customer contributions have averaged $69,000 since 2005. The economic downturn had a significant impact on some and their ability to pay energy bills, as well as a steady decline in Keeping Warm fund donations. In an effort to bolster contributions to the Heisse Johnson Keeping Warm Fund, organizers decided to take a new approach in order to expand its service to others. BrightRidge Board of Directors voted at its November 2008 meeting to match customer donations up to $70,000 annually. This alone doubled the number of households the program assists. A second approach to bolster funds was to change the program name from Heisse Johnson Keeping Warm Fund to Heisse Johnson Hand Up Program. The name change expanded the program from a “winter heating assistance program” to a year-round utility assistance service for low-income households in crisis. The new marketing proposal was “that every customer add $1 to their (electricity) bill for Heisse Johnson Hand Up Program,” said Lester Lattany, then President – CEO Johnson City Area United Way, Inc. All funds collected go directly to the Heisse Johnson Hand Up Program to be re-distributed via Good Samaritan’s Ministries and the Salvation Army. Remember, each dollar you contribute will be matched by an additional dollar, doubling the benefit for our community.
Sign up to give!
Please read the Electronic Signature Agreement and then complete the form below to sign up as a donor. Upon clicking "finish," your form will be submitted to our Customer Service Department for final processing.
If you would like to make a one-time donation, make checks payable to the Heisse Johnson Hand Up Program and mail to:
Hand Up Program
1907 N. Roan St. Suite #409
Johnson City, TN 37601
-
Electronic Signature Agreement
By selecting the "I Accept" button, you are signing this Agreement electronically. You agree your electronic signature is the legal equivalent of your manual/handwritten signature on this Agreement. By selecting "I Accept" using any device, means or action, you consent to the legally binding terms and conditions of this Agreement. You further agree that your signature on this document (hereafter referred to as your "E-Signature") is as valid as if you signed the document in writing. You also agree that no certification authority or other third-party verification is necessary to validate your E-Signature and that the lack of such certification or third-party verification will not in any way affect the enforceability of your E-Signature or any resulting contract between you and BrightRidge. You also represent that you are authorized to enter into this Agreement for all persons who own or are authorized to access any of your accounts and that such persons will be bound by the terms of this Agreement. You further agree that each use of your E-Signature in obtaining an account with BrightRidge constitutes your agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of BrightRidge’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy as they exist on the date of your E-Signature.