Local non-profits benefiting from Operation Round Up grants

Dec 05 2016 | by James Taylor

Thanks to Central Electric’s Operation Round Up program, powered by donations from Central Electric members, several nonprofits are benefiting from grant funding. Over $27,000 is being put back into the surrounding communities to provide assistance for worthy projects that provide vital service needs. Grants were awarded to the following groups:

Benhaven Elementary School- Funded $1,000 to help the school social worker provide immediate and basic support to students for food, clothing and school supplies.
Broadway Lions Club- Funded $1,500 to help fund equipment for the Medicaid Eye Clinic.
Chatham, Harnett, Lee and Moore County Social Services- Funded $5,000 total to be distributed to less fortunate individuals to assist with power bills.
Chatham Central High School- Funded $2,000 to purchase 6 iPads to conduct virtual reality tours of historic location and to create learning and research stations in American History classes.
High Hopes Chorus- Funded $800.00 to purchase music and supplies.
Highland Elementary School- Funded $1,000 to help the school social worker provide immediate and basic support to students for food, clothing and school supplies.
Highland Middle School- Funded $1,500 for Rachel’s Challenge, a training program to help eliminate bullying and increase students ability to learn in a safe, supportive school environment.
Highway to Healing, Inc.- Funded $1,000 to help with expenses associated with reimbursing volunteers for use of their personal vehicles to transport cancer patients to treatments.
Johnsonville Elementary School- Funded $1,000 to help the school social worker provide immediate and basic support to students for food, clothing and school supplies.
Lee County High School-Exceptional Children’s Department- Funded $1,500 for the Lunch and Learn and Positive Behavior programs.
SkillsUSA Northwood High School- Funded $2,000 to assist with expenses in sending students to competitions.
Southern Lee High School- Funded $1,000 for the Lunch-N-Learn program provided to students with disabilities to prepare them for life after high school.
Southern Lee High School Agriculture Education Program- Funded $1,500 to maintain the habitats and food for the small animal program and plan and install raised gardens at the greenhouse area of the campus.
Stepping Stones Children Center- Funded $2,500 to purchase a buggy and stroller for the facility.
Taylor Dance- Funded $1,500 for outreach to Title I students.
Temple Theater- Funded $2,000 to produce a professional quality theatre show designed to tour to local schools and churches addressing relevant youth issues.
Treasure Chest Ministries- Funded $1,000 to purchase gifts for the Christmas Outreach program that provides gifts for children of qualified at-risk families.

“The Central Electric members provide a great service to our local communities through their generous donations to the Operation Round Up program,” said Nancy Gust, Central Electric member care trust administrator. “A few extras cents from a large group of people really does make a big impact and it has shown over the last two and half years through the amount of grants provided through the program.”

Operation Round Up is a volunteer program in which Central Electric members can choose to “round up” their electric bill to the next whole dollar each month. Voluntary contributions are made to the Central Electric Member Care Trust and grants are awarded for worthy projects by the Member Care Trust Board of Directors. Applications for 2017 first-quarter grant opportunities must be submitted by Feb. 1. Grant recipients will be announced following the board meeting on Feb. 16. For more information on Central Electric’s Operation Round Up program, visit the “Community” tab.