Local non-profits receive grants through ORU

Dec 01 2017

Thanks to Central Electric’s Operation Round Up program, powered by donations from Central Electric members, several nonprofits are benefiting from grant funding. Over $28,000 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:

  1. Boys & Girls Club of Central Carolina (Lee) – Funded $3,000 to provide supplies for the Power Hour homework support program.
  2. Broadway Lions Club (Lee) – Funded $3,000 to support the Character Plus Program and provide eye glasses to the vision clinic.
  3. Chatham, Harnett, Lee and Moore County Social Services – Funded $7,000 total to be distributed to less fortunate individuals to assist with power bills.
  4. Chatham Outreach Alliance, Inc./CORA Food Pantry – Funded $3,000 to purchase supplies for the food pantry.
  5. High Hopes Chorus (Lee) – Funded $500 to provide sheet music and supplies for chorus to perform in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and for the Lee County Enrichment Center Diner’s Club.
  6. Ingram Family YMCA (Lee) – Funded $1,500 to support the Y-Learning program at B.T. Bullock Elementary School.
  7. Lee County High School Skills USA – Funded $1,000 to help students with registration for regional and state competitions.
  8. Moore County Special Olympics – Funded $1,500 to provide athletes funds to participate in the 2017 N.C. Fall Special Olympics tournament in Charlotte.
  9. Northwood High School Skills USA (Chatham) – Funded $1,000 to help students with registration for regional and state competitions.
  10. Taylor Dance/The PlayHouse (Moore) – Funded $2,000 to provide financial support to make it more attainable for Title I schools to attend a classical performance.
  11. Temple Theatre (Lee) – Funded $3,000 to provide support for a production specifically geared to topics such as bullying, literacy and social media misuse.
  12. Triangle South Literacy Works, Inc. (Harnett) – Funded $1,000 to purchase supplies to assist students with different levels of learning in subjects including English, citizenship, reading, writing, math and computer skills.
  13. Western Harnett Overhills-Area PTO Thrift Store – Funded $650 to purchase fans for the store.

“Operation Round Up shows the power of small donations made by a large group of individuals,” said Nancy Gust, Central Electric Member Care Trust Administrator. “Central Electric’s members have truly made a tremendous impact on our local communities by donating as little as 1 cent and at most 99 cents each month. Since 2013, these small donations have resulted in over $430,000 in grants being awarded to organizations throughout the community, showing how much our members really care about making a difference.”

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 2018 first-quarter grant opportunities must be submitted by Feb. 1. Grant recipients will be announced following the board meeting on Feb. 15. For more information on Central Electric’s Operation Round Up program, visit the “Community” tab.