Through the contributions of Lake Country Power's participating members, the Operation Round Up® Electric Trust Board recently approved $64,206 in assistance to local community programs during its quarterly meeting.
The cooperative’s Trust Board reviewed and considered 49 grant applications and distributed funds to 41 projects and programs this past quarter.
All funds generated through Operation Round Up® are set aside in a trust fund. A voluntary Trust Board of nine co-op members administers the trust. Of the funds collected through the program, 100% is distributed to charitable organizations through an application and selection process. The Trust Board uses special guidelines and policies when choosing recipients. Since the program’s inception, more than $3.8 million in contributions have been given.
Most Recent Recipients
- Aitkin Youth Center
- Blackberry Township
- Breitung Fire and Rescue
- Care Partners
- Cloquet Area Fire District
- Cromwell-Wright Area Summer Fastpitch
- ElderCircle
- Ely Folk School
- Ely’s Historic State Theater
- Faith in Action for Cass County
- Floodwood Services & Training, Inc.
- Girl Scouts of Minnesota and Wisconsin Lakes and Pines
- Grace House of Itasca County
- Greenway High School band
- ISD 318 Grand Rapids Area Schools Community Education
- Itasca County Family YMCA
- Long Lake Conservation Foundation archery range
- Mesabi Humane Society
- Northern Lakes Arts Association
- Northern Lights Council: Scouting America
- Northern Lights Music Festival, Inc.
- Open Door Coat Rack
- Queen of Peace Quilters
- Sewing Club
- Sharon’s Free Wig Closet
- Silica Volunteer Fire Department
- Siseebakwet Lake Association
- Smart North
- Something Cool, Inc.
- St. Louis County 4-H Dog Project
- St. Louis County Volunteer Rescue Squad
- Southwest St. Louis County Fair
- Quilting group for people in need
- Tower-Soudan Lake Vermilion Events Board
- United Way of Carlton and Pine County
- Vandyke Elementary School music basics
- Volunteers in Education math and reading tutoring kits
- Walker Adult Day Services
- Wee Care Sewers
- Well Being Development
- YMCA Camp Miller “camperships”
Operation Round Up® is a charitable program unique to electric co-ops, which is designed to provide financial assistance to worthwhile activities and community projects by “rounding up” members’ electric bills to the nearest dollar. The average donation of each participating Lake Country Power member is less than $6 annually.
Among Lake Country Power’s 44,000 members, 70% of all active electric accounts participate in the program through voluntary contributions. Interested members can opt into the Operation Round Up® program by calling the cooperative at 800-421-9959.
The electronic application process is available at www.lakecountrypower.coop(My Cooperative > Community > Operation Round Up®). The next application deadline is August 15.