American Electric Power’s (NYSE: AEP) new community involvement report highlights education and other major community activities the company supports through $8.3 million in corporate contributions, sponsorships and employee volunteerism.

The brochure - "Teaching, Sharing, Protecting: Community Connections" - provides a snapshot of AEP´s involvement in education, community, safety, health and human services, the environment and the arts.

"This is the first time we have formally told our community involvement story, but reaching out to schools and other nonprofit organizations has been a long-standing tradition at AEP," said Nicholas J. Ashooh, senior vice president - Corporate Communications.

"Community involvement is vital to continuing AEP´s commitment to be a good corporate citizen, and we felt it was time to speak out and let people know some of the major ways we help make our communities better places to live and work.

"We are proud of our record of community service and our commitment to support and play an active, positive role in our communities. Teaching, sharing and protecting is at the heart of what AEP tries to accomplish in its 11 states," Ashooh said.

Featured in the report are Louie the Lightning Bug, the AEP mascot who makes schoolchildren laugh as he teaches them how to stay safe in situations involving electricity, along with employee participation in blood and food drives and donations collected for the victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy.

Copies of "Teaching, Sharing, Protecting: Community Connections" may be requested online at www.aep.com.

American Electric Power is a multinational energy company with a balanced portfolio of energy assets. AEP, the United States´ largest electricity generator, owns and operates more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. and select international markets.

AEP is a leading wholesale energy marketer, ranking among North America´s top providers of wholesale power and natural gas with a growing wholesale presence in European markets. In addition to electricity generation, AEP owns and operates natural gas pipeline systems, natural gas storage, coal mines and the fourth-largest inland barge company in the U.S. AEP is also one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, with almost 5 million customers linked to AEP´s wires. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio.