HOUSTON (June 19, 2007) – Texas Children’s Hospital today announced a $500,000 donation from Enbridge Energy Company, Inc. to benefit the Texas Children’s Neurological Research Institute, the world’s first dedicated pediatric neurological research facility. 

“This generous gift propels Texas Children’s Hospital’s efforts to perform groundbreaking research that is designed to lead to innovative treatment options for the millions of lives affected by neurological disorders,” said Dr. Huda Zoghbi, director, Texas Children’s Neurological Research Institute. “The Enbridge contribution is timelier than ever with nearly 450 million people worldwide affected with neurological diseases, 14 million of whom are America’s youth. This gift will not only lead to advances that will help patients with neurological disorders, but will serve as an investment in the future of our children.”  

The number of people afflicted by neurological disorders such as Rett syndrome, Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy and learning disabilities is on the rise.  These diseases are estimated to exceed half a trillion dollars annually in healthcare expenditures, lost productivity and related economic costs.  Brain-related disorders account for the majority of our nation’s long-term care costs and, when combined with psychiatric disorders, account for more hospitalization and prolonged care than almost all other diseases combined.

“Enbridge is committed to supporting key health initiatives in the North American communities where our employees live and work,” said Stephen J.J. Letwin, managing director, Enbridge Energy Company, Inc.  “We are proud to invest in this innovative neurological facility at Texas Children’s Hospital, which is pioneering cutting-edge research and treatment advances that ultimately benefit children worldwide.”

Houston is the headquarters for Enbridge’s worldwide natural gas transportation businesses and for two of Enbridge’s three U.S. publicly traded entities, Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. and Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C.

Texas Children’s Hospital, one of the top pediatric organizations in the world, recently announced that it is investing $1.5 billion over a four-year period in initiatives to secure its role as a pre-eminent pediatric institution and to anticipate the future of children’s health regionally, nationally and internationally. This is the largest expansion program ever by a single children’s hospital.

The planned initiatives, all of which are targeted for completion by 2010, focus largely on research and accessibility, two areas which the Texas Children’s board and its leadership believe are the keys to rapidly translating science into quality clinical care for children, as well as making that quality care accessible to all patients. Major projects include the creation of a comprehensive neurological research institute, the formation of a maternity center, expansion of existing research facilities and the development of one of the largest pediatric hospitals in a suburban setting

“This investment is not about buildings; it is about the responsibility we as a leader in pediatrics have to accelerate the translation of research into effective treatments,” said Mark A. Wallace, chief executive officer of Texas Children’s Hospital. “Corporate partners like Enbridge make it possible for us to commit the necessary resources to change the lives of countless children and families, in Houston and throughout the world.”

The Texas Children’s Neurological Research Institute will be the first comprehensive pediatric neurological research center of its kind in the world devoted to collaborative, unified efforts to understand the unique issues of the child’s brain structure, development patterns and related diseases.

The institute will combine research, treatment and education, assisting families with children suffering cognitive disorders and scientists committed to finding treatments and cures. Additionally, because so much of this work will be done using genetic models of neurodevelopmental and neurodigenerative diseases, it is anticipated that findings will have a major impact on adult diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases.

About Texas Children’s Hospital:
As one of the nation’s largest pediatric hospitals, Texas Children’s Hospital is renowned for its expertise and breakthrough development in the treatment of cancer, premature infants, cardiogenic disorders, diabetes, asthma, HIV/AIDS and attention-related disorders.   Since opening its doors in 1954, the Texas Children’s Hospital has cared for more than 1 million children from every corner of the world and has had more than 2 million patient encounters a year.  Internationally recognized, the hospital is ranked in the top five among children’s hospitals by both Child and U.S. News and World Report. 
 
About Enbridge Energy Company, Inc
Enbridge Energy Company, Inc., is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. of Calgary, Alberta and is the general partner of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (www.enbridgepartners.com) (the “Partnership”), which owns and operates a diversified portfolio of crude oil and natural gas transportation systems in the United States. The Partnership’s principal crude oil system is the largest transporter of growing oil production from western Canada. The system’s deliveries to refining centers in the U.S. Midwest account for approximately 12 percent of total U.S. oil imports; while deliveries to Ontario, Canada satisfy approximately 60 percent of refinery demand in that region. The Partnership’s natural gas gathering, treating, processing and transmission assets, which are principally located onshore in the active Mid-Continent and Gulf Coast area, deliver more than 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily. Enbridge Energy Management, L.L.C. (www.enbridgemanagement.com) manages the business and affairs of the Partnership and its sole asset is an approximate 14 percent interest in the Partnership. For more about Enbridge in the United States, go to www.enbridgeUS.com.