Operation Round Up grants boosting local non-profits

Dec 04 2018 | 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 $30,000 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. BonLee School 8th grade class (Chatham) – Funded $3,000 to help offset the costs of a trip to Washington, D.C. for 8th grade students who are financially unable to cover expenses.
  2. Broadway Lions Club (Lee) – Funded $2,587 to provide eye glasses for the vision clinic.
  3. Chatham, Harnett, Lee and Moore County Social Services – Funded $5,000 total to be distributed to less fortunate individuals to assist with power bills.
  4. Chatham County Partnership for Children (Chatham) – Funded $2,587 to help fund the “Raising a Reader” program, an evidence-based early literacy and parent engagement program.
  5. East Lee Middle School (Lee) – Funded $2,587 to help with the Rocket Store, a part of the Three Tiered Behavior Support that aims to reward students for good behavior.
  6. Floyd L. Knight Children’s Center (Lee) – Funded $1,800 to transfer a 10x12 ft. outdoor building on campus into a mock apartment to help students learn and practice daily living skills.
  7. Gary Taylor Dance (Moore) – Funded $2,587 to provide financial support to make it more attainable for Title I schools to attend a classical performance.
  8. High Hopes Chorus (Lee) – Funded $500 to provide sheet music and supplies for the chorus to perform for groups in the area.
  9. Ingram Family YMCA (Lee) – Funded $2,587 to support the Y-Learning program at B.T. Bullock Elementary School.
  10. Lee County High School Academy of Hospitality & Tourism (Lee) – Funded $2,587 to help support a work-based learning experience to help students gain real-life skills.
  11. Moore County Special Olympics (Moore) – Funded $2,587 to help cover costs incurred annually by the organization to allow children with disabilities to compete free of charge.
  12. St. Provision Community Development Corp. (Lee) – Funded $2,587 to help cover costs associated with stage rental for the Positive Direction for Youth Conference.

“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 $540,000 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 2019 first-quarter grant opportunities must be submitted by Jan. 15. Grant recipients will be announced following the board meeting on Feb. 14. For more information on Central Electric’s Operation Round Up program, visit the “Community” tab at CEMCPower.com.