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When the going gets tough, the tough get giving.

Just ask the employees and retirees of PPL Corporation, who recently wrapped up the company’s annual United Way fundraising campaign. PPL givers set a company fundraising record for the second straight year, pledging slightly more than $2 million in donations despite challenging economic conditions.

Those donations, given by employees and retirees from throughout PPL’s U.S. operations, will support local United Ways and nonprofit agencies that provide vital services – such as Meals on Wheels, after-school mentoring programs and emergency shelters – in the communities where PPL does business.

“These are trying times for human service agencies because of the economic downturn,” said Chief Operating Officer Bill Spence, who served as co-chairman of this year’s PPL campaign. “I’m proud of all of the PPL employees and retirees who have responded so generously to these needs. PPL believes it is critical that we give back to our communities, and our employees have embraced this, not only with their financial contributions, but also with their time and talents.”

PPL is one of the leading corporate supporters of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, which serves its headquarters area. The company is also a substantial supporter of United Ways and community agencies in other areas where it does business, including areas of eastern and central Pennsylvania and Montana.

“Although the difficult economic climate is affecting everyone, PPL employees and retirees stepped up and surpassed their giving of last year – truly amazing support,” said Susan Gilmore, president of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley. “The generosity at all levels of the PPL organization has been inspiring. On behalf of all the United Ways that are being helped and the thousands of children and families that will benefit, we say, ‘Thank you.’ ”

The theme of this year’s PPL United Way campaign, “Change a Life, Change a Community,” reflected the fact that United Ways and community agencies help improve the quality of life for everyone in a community, not just those who directly receive services.

As a company, PPL gives more than $5 million each year in corporate contributions. Through the United Way campaign, PPL offers a 50 percent match on certain types of new or increased employee donations, making employees’ gifts go further.

PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL), headquartered in Allentown, Pa., controls or owns nearly 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States, sells energy in key U.S. markets and delivers electricity to about 4 million customers in Pennsylvania and the United Kingdom. More information is available at www.pplweb.com.