(CUMMING, GA) The Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation (Foundation), announced today that it will distribute more than $40,460 for local charities, educational projects and college foundation scholarships. The funds were generated from co-op members through Sawnee EMC’s Operation Round Up Program.
Operation Round Up allows participating members to round up their electric bill to the next dollar. The money is directed into the Sawnee Electric Foundation and 100% is then administered in a series of grants by its voluntary Board of Directors. On average, participating members will contribute about $6.00 per year.
The Foundation Board approved $27,590 for local charitable organizations, $2,876.94 for Bright Ideas classroom grants and $10,000 for local college foundation scholarships.
The 1st Quarter grants are as follows:
Charitable Organizations
- Hall-Dawson CASA Program, Inc.
- Cumming First United Methodist Church
- Forsyth County Humane Society
- Friends of Disabled Adults and Children Too, Inc.
- American Legion, Post 307
- Prevent Blindness Georgia
- Georgia Police K9 Foundation, Inc.
- Good Shepherd Clinic of Dawson County, Inc.
- Teacher Reuse Exchange, Inc.
Bright Ideas
- Ms. Kelli Mittrucker, Avery Elementary School – Cherokee County
- Ms. Mittrucker received a grant for her project titled “Building an Inclusive Playground”
- Ms. Christine Crowder, Settles Bridge Elementary School - Forsyth County
- Ms. Crowder received a grant for her project titled “The Sensory Bridge Between Autism and the Early Childhood Classroom”
College and Technical School Foundation Scholarships
- University of North Georgia Foundation, Inc. – Cumming Campus
“Sawnee EMC members have a unique opportunity to support their local communities through Operation Round Up,” states Mandy Love, Director of Marketing. She further states, “We are proud of the impact made through Operation Round Up; funds are raised by our members and then returned back to our local communities.”
Each month, approximately 14,500 Sawnee EMC members round up their electric bill to the next highest dollar. This extra change goes directly to the Sawnee Foundation and these small, yet generous, donations have allowed the Foundation Board to donate over $4.4 Million back into local communities since its inception in 2003.
To learn more about Sawnee EMC Foundation’s Operation Round Up Program and the Foundation, visit www.sawnee.coop/oru or contact Mandy Love, Director of Marketing, at 678-455-1579 or via email mandy.love@sawnee.coop.
About Sawnee EMC and the Sawnee Foundation
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Cumming, Georgia. Sawnee serves electricity to approximately 199,000 accounts in seven (7) counties of greater north Georgia. The Sawnee Electric Foundation was created in 2003 with the mission of providing charitable donations within the Sawnee communities. The Foundation exists to enhance the way of life for those in need, with financial assistance to selected charitable organizations. Sawnee always stands ready to meet the needs of its members and strives daily to live up to their motto…
“At Sawnee EMC, We’re More Than Electricity, We’re Service”.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.