PINEVILLE, LA. – Cleco is this year’s presenting sponsor for the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s CenLa Race for the Cure.

To kick off this year’s race, Cleco will host a coordinated balloon release at four of its office locations throughout Louisiana. The Mansfield, New Iberia and Covington customer service office locations and the Pineville Corporate Office will simultaneously participate in the balloon release Thursday, July 18, at noon.

“This is a special opportunity for Cleco employees to join together and make a difference in support of an important cause at a local level,” said Bruce A. Williamson, president and CEO of Cleco Corporation. “Because breast cancer has impacted our workforce statewide, we decided to join efforts throughout the company to support breast cancer awareness.”

Collectively, Cleco will release more than 1,000 pink and white balloons on Thursday. Cleco employees purchased balloons to pay tribute to those affected by breast cancer. Inside each balloon are names of breast cancer survivors or the names of individuals who have courageously fought but lost the battle with breast cancer.

“As a breast cancer survivor, it is important to give back and help others going through treatment or those who have gone through treatment,” said Monza Williams, Cleco executive secretary and 2013 Race for the Cure survivor honoree. “I want to share my knowledge and resources with others.  Breast cancer can devastate families. For me, it is all about giving back, and having my co-workers’ support means so much.”

Cleco will donate all funds to the Komen local affiliates. Monies raised support grants to local agencies for breast cancer prevention and research.