507-847-3520 or 800-321-3520
Fax: 507-728-8366
77100 US Highway 71
PO Box 69
Jackson, MN 56143-0069
info@federatedrea.coop
Members Help Fund Local Projects
(Jackson, MN) -- The Federated Rural Electric Trust, Jackson, awarded $12,057 to local organizations through Operation Round Up April 1. These donations occur due to monthly contributions by Federated members.
Through this charitable giving program 21 organizations received money in this 29th round of funding. The funds were recently awarded to these local organizations:
| Organization | Amount | Purpose |
| Cottonwood County Historical Society | $150 | Speaker mileage for Charles Lindbergh program Sept. 13 |
| Sherburn Senior Dining Center | $200 | Toward a dishwasher for Senior Nutrition Program |
| Jackson County DAC | $200 | Toward a large capacity dishwasher |
| Jackson County Central Anatomy Class | $225 | Toward transportation costs for students' trip to cadaver lab at South Dakota State University |
| Jackson Circles of Support | $250 | Toward purchase of highchair, booster chairs, step stool, supplies and storage containers for children programs |
| Truman Historical Association | $250 | To purchase start-up materials for an after school program - "History Hands On" |
| Dunnell Book Room |
$250 | Buy CDs, DVDs and books for adult readers |
| Truman Public School |
$300 | To purchase metal storage cabinet for preschool |
| Southwest Star Concept Wellness Center, Okabena | $300 | Buy hyperextension machine for community fitness center |
| Sanford Hospice, Worthington | $382 | Toward three ear thermometers and one pulse oximeter |
| Reinbows Inc. of Windom | $400 | Scholarship for child or elderly person to take part in an equine-assisted therapy program |
| Western Community Action Big Buddies $400 | $400 | Toward DVD curriculum for Young Women of Excellence at JCC Middle School, Lakefield |
| Jackson County Library | $450 | To hire "Zooman" to perform at summer reading program |
| Girl Scouts of MN & WI River Valleys | $500 | Toward Jackson and Martin County Girl's Swim Team |
| Fort Belmont, Jackson | $500 | To purchase paver squares for path to the church |
| Dunnell-Lake Fremont Fire Department |
$500 | Toward a foam system for structural firefighting and fuel-alcohol fires |
| Alpha Fire Department | $500 | Buy certified vests for fireman assisting with car fires |
| Ceylon Fire Department | $500 | To purchase a handheld radio |
| Ceylon EMS | $500 | Toward purchase of new stretcher |
| Northrop Fire Department | $500 | Toward purchase of Air Pac |
| Minnesota West, Jackson | $600 | Dedicated to a Jackson or Martin County student enrolled in electrical lineworker's program |
| $600 high school scholarships | $4,200 | One $600 scholarship per district for high school seniors of Federated members |
| Total | $12,057 |
The Trust Board received 29 applications totaling $34,084 in this 29th round of funding. The Trust Board will meet again in the fall to determine the next round of funding. The deadline for submitting applications is October 2, 2009.
High school seniors, who are the children of Federated members, must apply for the scholarships. Applications will be mailed with the April 1 electric bills. Applications will also be available from Federated's web site, office or school counselors after April 1. The scholarship deadline is April 22. Recipients will be
announced in Federated's June Connections newsletter.
About 73 percent of Federated Rural Electric members participate in Operation Round Up. They allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar. For example, a bill of $47.75 is rounded up to $48. The extra cents go to a special trust fund, which is administered by an independent trust board that consists of seven
Federated members. Since the first round of funding in 1995, more than $302,000 total has been awarded to local organizations and as high school scholarships.
"Operation Round Up is a way for members to help members," said Scott McClure, Federated's Trust Board Chairman. "Just a few cents a month, when added with other members' cents, can really add up and do some good in our communities. On the average, a member's Round Up contributions amount to approximately $6 a year, which is tax-deductible."
The Trust Board's policy outlines project categories eligible for funding:
- community service (emphasis on public safety, health care and enhancement of cultural environment),
- community leadership programs,
- education and youth projects (social problems and well ness/athletics),
- environmental projects (recycling, environmental education and environmental ag research),
- emergency energy assistance funds to organizations for distribution and
- disaster relief.
Interested organizations may go to the Operation Round Up section to download the form and information. Otherwise, e-mail us for an application or call 507-847-3520; ask for Sherry or Andrea.
Federated is a Touchstone Energy cooperative serving more than 5,000 members in Jackson and Martin Counties.