The sponsors of the Ninth Annual Heat for the Needy program need your help.

TUDI Mechanical Systems of McKees Rocks and Standard Air & Lite Corp. of Crafton are asking the public to nominate low-income individuals and families who need a new heating system.

Nominations must be received by Dec. 14.

"Our goal is to install a minimum of 12 new systems with help from local suppliers, vendors and volunteers who support this worthy cause," said Bob Tudi, chief executive officer of the company that bears his name.

He said the program has installed more than 75 heating systems valued at more than $350,000 during the past eight years.

Mr. Tudi said he got the idea for the program when an employee told him about a single mother with three children and an unsafe furnace. The employee said he would install a new furnace at no charge if the Tudi company would supply the furnace. Mr. Tudi said the good deed had a dramatic impact on him and his employee.

Mr. Tudi said his employees, often accompanied by their children, volunteer their time to install the donated furnaces and related equipment. "At the end of the day, after seeing what life is like for those less fortunate, the kids have a greater appreciation of their circumstances," he said.

To generate more nominations this year, Mr. Tudi and Mr. Baney sent more than 2,000 letters and fliers to the news media, churches and social service agencies. They asked that the fliers, which contain all pertinent information about the program, be posted on bulletin boards throughout the region. Lamar Advertising donated five billboards to the cause.

Mr. Tudi said each nomination is read, evaluated and ranked according to need. Personal visits then are made to the homes of the top nominees to validate their level of need. The names of the recipients will be announced Jan. 4, and the new heating systems will be installed Jan. 26.

Although the sponsors have tried to move up those dates, he said it hasn't been possible because fall and early winter are the busiest times of the year for heating companies, their employees and their suppliers.

Mr. Tudi said the "Heat for the Needy" campaign culminates with the "One Day Miracle." It's a day that begins with a buffet breakfast at company headquarters for employees and volunteers, continues with the installation of all the new heating systems and ends with a buffet dinner at headquarters.

"That's when everyone shares their stories of the day's work," said Kevin Bright, TUDI's chief operating officer and chair of the Heat for the Needy program.

Michael Parsons, 55, a disabled mechanical draftsman and designer who lives with his teenage daughter in a frame home in Sharpsburg, received a new furnace last year. "I never realized how bad our old gas furnace was until they put the new one in. Our heating bill dropped by a third and we now are actually warm."

Mr. Tudi said the program also is helping furnace recipients with their fuel bills.

"The Sewickley Heights Golf Club helped us put together a golf outing last summer and we raised $12,000," he said.

To nominate an individual or a family for the program, send their name, address, telephone number and current form of heat in an e-mail to heatfortheneedy@tudi.com or fax it to 412-771-7737 or mail it to TUDI Mechanical Systems, c/o Heat for the Needy, 343 Munson Ave., McKees Rocks, PA 15136.