‘Light Up Dr. Bear’ campaign launched by Children’s National: Helps Kids Grow Up Stronger

This holiday season, WGL Energy Services, Inc. (WGL Energy) is serving as the exclusive campaign matching partner of the ‘Light Up Dr. Bear’ campaign launched by Children’s National. The end-of-year initiative aims to inspire, encourage and motivate members of the D.C. metro region to contribute to young patients and families being cared for by the largest and most comprehensive pediatric hospital in the mid-Atlantic.

The innovative campaign features special light-up Dr. Bears that illuminate with bright colors when a donation is made online or via text. The bears, tailor-made to resemble the hospital’s iconic Dr. Bear mascot, are placed in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, within Children’s National’s main campus and outpatient clinics, and at WGL locations at The Wharf, Tysons Corner and Springfield.

In total, 316 bears are on display across the D.C. region, one for each patient bed at Children’s National. The bears come in 4-foot and 12-inch versions and are accompanied by step-by-step instructions on how to make a gift using text-to-donate technology. The bears are positioned in the community and the hospital, so people can witness the bears shine with each donation and reflect on the generous spirit they represent.

WGL Energy is underwriting the production, installation and maintenance cost of all bears placed at Children’s National and throughout the region, in addition to contributing volunteer time, community service outreach and other areas of support including social media. The tagline “Powered by WGL Energy” appears on the instruction panel of approximately 300 bears in market from mid-November through December 31, 2018.

“WGL Energy is delighted to partner with Children’s National and be associated with a bold philanthropic effort that will be seen and experienced by millions in the Washington, D.C. metro region and help thousands of children and families grow up stronger,” said Tony Nee, vice president of strategy, business development and non-utility operations at WGL, the parent company of WGL Energy. “We look forward to assisting a program that gets to the heart of our corporate values of giving back to the community and supporting those in need.”

“Children’s National is proud to launch a campaign showcasing the generosity of our community in a dynamic and engaging way,” said DeAnn Marshall, MHA, president of Children’s Hospital Foundation. “We are thrilled to align with WGL Energy in this campaign, allowing our donors, patients, parents and staff members to see each gift light up our surrounding community and the everyday lives of our area’s children. We encourage everyone to participate in the campaign by making a donation of any size to help children grow up stronger.”

WGL Energy, a retail energy supplier based in Northern Virginia, delivers a full spectrum of energy offerings, such as electricity, natural gas, renewable energy, carbon reduction, distributed generation and energy efficiency solutions, in territories that include the mid-Atlantic.