MURPHYSBORO, Ill. – Funds for non-profit organizations are not always easy to come by, and Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association (EECA) wants to help those organizations in need through its new Operation Round Up program.
Launched by EECA in early 2019, Operation Round Up is a 501(c)(3) charitable program designed to provide financial assistance to qualified groups and organizations that contribute to the betterment of communities within the EECA service footprint. Funds are raised by consumer-members of EECA that voluntarily enroll in the Operation Round Up program, agreeing to round their monthly electric bills up to the nearest dollar. The average individual contribution each month is 50 cents and never exceeds $11.88 per year.
“We want to make a positive difference in the lives of people who live in our region,” said Shane Hermetz, EECA Executive Vice President/General Manager. “If we could provide funding to purchase an AED that saves a life, that would be an asset to the community. If funding is used for community service or food pantry support, that positively affects real people. Offering an Operation Round Up program to our communities goes above and beyond providing electric service in our part of rural America.”
Since inception, EECA’s program has accumulated more than $4,000 from its consumer-members and employees. These dollars will be the first to go back into the communities it serves.
Applications to receive the grant funds are now available and can be completed online or downloaded at eeca.coop/applytoroundup. Operation Round Up grant dollars are available to any group or organization recognized as exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and Section 170 of the IRS Code. Among the exceptions to the 501(c)(3) designation are public educational institutions which are defined by the IRS in Section 170 or municipalities.
Applications for this cycle are due April 4, and the first recipients of the grant dollars will be selected by April 26, 2022. Applications will be accepted online or in-person during business hours, by mail, after-hours drop box, email and fax.
“If every residential account participated in contributing to our Operation Round Up program, we could bring in more than $90,000 per year,” Hermetz said. “It’s the power of the change in your pocket that could make the difference.”
In order for the Operation Round Up program to grow, EECA is asking for all consumer-members to consider signing up to participate. The more funds collected, the more money that can be given back to our communities. To sign up to contribute to the Operation Round Up program, or to learn more, visit eeca.coop/roundup today.
Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association is a member of Touchstone Energy — a national alliance of local, consumer-owned electric cooperatives providing high standards of service to members large and small. More than 700 Touchstone Energy cooperatives in 46 states are delivering energy and energy solutions to more than 30 million members every day. EECA is committed to providing superior service based on four core principles: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community. The co-op serves more than 15,000 meters over 2,000 miles of line in Jackson, Perry, Randolph, St. Clair, Washington and Williamson counties, and parts of Franklin, Johnson, Monroe and Union counties. For more information visit www.eeca.coop.