Volunteers with Energy (VWE) is a company-wide organization of ONEOK employee volunteers whose purpose is to improve quality of life by helping others through volunteer participation in community and civic activities.

VWE was organized in response to the growing need of nonprofit agencies for volunteers. Membership in VWE is open to employees and retirees, as well as to their spouses and family members, in ONEOK’s service areas in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Since its January 2003 kick-off, VWE has received more than 300 requests from charitable organizations for volunteer assistance with their various events and activities, thus confirming that ONEOK is indeed addressing a critical need in the communities we serve.

In 2003, its inaugural year, VWE provided 732 employee volunteers, who gave a total of 4,708 hours; in 2004, VWE provided 1,070 employee volunteers, who gave a total of 6,536 hours; and in 2005, VWE provided 1,611 employee volunteers, who gave a total of 8,836 hours in assisting more than 75 nonprofit charities in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas with various promotional and fund-raising events.

Activity highlights include:

• Topeka Cemetery Clean-Up – Topeka, Kansas. The historic Topeka Cemetery is the final resting place for U.S. Vice President Charles Curtis, five Kansas governors, 21 mayors of Kansas cities and towns, veterans from all eight American-fought wars, and many pioneers and founders who shaped the Topeka community. Because of the age of the cemetery, over half of the burial plots do not have family or relatives to maintain the plots. Kansas Gas Service VWE worked hand-in-hand with volunteers from other organizations to clean, mow, and trim areas in preparation for the Memorial Day weekend.
• Tornado Clean-Up Project – Kansas City, Kansas. On May 4, 2003, an F4 tornado struck the northwest area of Kansas City, affecting 570 homes in the area. Kansas Gas Service VWE provided around-the-clock staffing for the communications booth at the Crisis Center and helped address concerns regarding natural gas issues.
• Keep the Heat – Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Keep the Heat was a collaborative effort between Oklahoma Natural Gas VWE, Macklenburg Duncan, and The Salvation Army. For this winterization project, Macklenburg Duncan provided free winterization materials, and Oklahoma Natural Gas VWE provided the volunteers. The project was open to the public and highly advertised. In preparation for the event, volunteers pre-sorted the winterization products, which included everything from thresholds to pipe insulation to plastic window covering. On the day of the event, volunteers assisted customers with choosing the winterization products appropriate for their needs.
• Oklahoma Special Olympics – Stillwater, Oklahoma. A joint project of ONEOK VWE and Oklahoma Natural Gas VWE, more than 60 employees from several towns across Oklahoma volunteered to staff one full day of Track & Field events at the Oklahoma Special Olympics. Special Olympics provide an opportunity for individuals with mental and physical disabilities to participate in sporting events.
• Hope for the Holidays – Tulsa, Oklahoma. Through a joint project of ONEOK VWE, Kansas Gas Service VWE, Oklahoma Natural Gas Company VWE, and Texas Gas Service VWE, dozens of volunteers were provided for a special performance of Tulsa Ballet’s The Nutcracker, presented exclusively for Tulsa area nonprofit agencies at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. More than 1,800 clients and their families were in attendance, most of whom had never before been in a concert hall. Young guests were immediately enchanted by the VWE greeters dressed as children’s storybook characters, winter bears, and penguins. Other volunteers served refreshments and presented souvenir nutcracker ornaments to all the guests. As the presenting sponsor for Hope for the Holidays was Oklahoma Natural Gas Company, a division of ONEOK, Inc., the event is an excellent example of how VWE can leverage other ONEOK activities.

Activities in which VWE chapters participated in:

Kansas Gas Service VWE

• Adopt-A-Piece of History – Cemetery Clean up
• Arkansas City Water Line Project
• Boys and Girls Club Christmas Family fundraiser
• Christmas Families – Overland Park
• Christmas Family Food Drive – Hutchinson
• Festival of Trees
• KTWA Public TV Auction
• Let’s Help Food Bank
• Lightening Ranch Wildlife Preserve
• Paws in the Park
• Pittsburg Area Food Drive
• Pratt County Fair
• Red Cross Crisis Center
• Reigns of Hope Therapeutic Riding Center
• Relay for Life
• Wichita River Festival

Oklahoma Natural Gas VWE

• Contact Crisis Festival of Hope
• Habitat for Humanity
• Light the Night Leukemia Walk
• Martin Luther King Coalition and Parade
• Martin Luther King Float
• Oklahoma Arts Festival
• Oklahoma City Beautiful Liter Blitz
• Oklahoma Natural Gas Holiday Bazaar
• Our Kids World Science Fair
• Redbud Bike Race
• Salvation Army – Keep the Heat
• Septemberfest
• Southwest Hospice Remembrance Tree
• Special Olympics
• Urban League Fun Fest

ONEOK VWE

• Barber Cut-Off Back to School Hair Cuts – Golf Tournament
• Blue Grass and Chili Festival
• Community Food Bank – Food for Families Drive
• Corporate Volunteer Council – Beach Blanket Bunco
• Gatesway Balloon Festival
• Goodwill Cleaning Drive
• Habitat for Humanity
• Indian Arts Festival
• Intertribal Indian Club Pow-Wow
• LIFE Senior Services Angel Tree
• Martin Luther King
• Mayfest
• Oklahoma Scottish Games
• Reaching Hands Angel Tree
• Special Olympics
• Tulsa Advocates Rights of Citizens with Developmental Disabilities – Shot in the Dark
• Tulsa Ballet Theater’s Hope for the Holiday
• Tulsa Technology Center/Camp Fire Boys & Girls – Just Plane Fun
• Tulsa Volunteer Center Wrap Shop

TGS VWE

• Adopt a Beach clean up
• American Red Cross Blood Drive
• Asthma Walk
• Boo at the Zoo
• Border Fest
• Center Against Family Violence – Revamp Project
• Charro Days
• Feast of Sharing
• It’s Your Park Day
• Las Palmas Del Sol ½ Marathon
• Live Stock K Show
• Meals on Wheels
• Project Bravo Paint-a-thon
• Rio Mar Trailriders
• Senior Citizen Community Center Caroling
• Shiner Bash
• Special Olympics