(CUMMING, GA) The Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation (Foundation), created by Sawnee EMC in 2003, announced today that it will distribute more than $30,800 for local charities and educational projects.  The funds for these projects were generated from co-op members through Sawnee EMC’s Operation Round Up program, a charitable program unique to electric cooperatives and is designed to give members a means of working together to use their small change to make an impact in their local communities.

Operation Round Up allows participating members to round up their electric bill to the next dollar.  On average, participating members will contribute $6.00 per year.  The money collected through Operation Round Up is directed to the Foundation and 100% is then administered in a series of grants by its voluntary Board of Directors.

The Foundation Board of Directors is pleased to announce the 3rd quarter grant recipients and their project details:

Charitable Organizations

• Dawson County Wee Books Program, Inc.
• No Longer Bound, Inc.
• North Fulton Community Charities
• Act Together Ministries
• Georgia Mountains YMCA, Inc.
• Junior Achievement of Georgia, Inc.
• The Children’s Center for Hope and Healing, Inc.
• Georgia Lions Camp for the Blind, Inc. 

Bright Ideas

• Kelly Phibbs – Johnston Elementary School, Cherokee County
• Abigail Schwegal – Johnston Elementary School, Cherokee County
• Heather Dalton – Avery Elementary School, Cherokee County
• Payton Snider – Creekland Middle School, Cherokee County
• Meighan Bassett – North Forsyth High School, Forsyth County
• Juliana Je – West Forsyth High School, Forsyth County
• Jennifer Campbell – Dean Rusk Middle School, Cherokee County
• Jessica Molter – Sawnee Elementary School, Forsyth County

“Giving back to the community is a core cooperative principle and the Operation Round Up Program is a great way for Sawnee EMC’s members to give back locally – they make this program possible,” states Blake House, Vice President of Member Services.

Each month, approximately 12,800 Sawnee EMC members voluntarily choose to round up their electric bill to the next highest dollar.  This extra change goes directly into the Foundation and these small, yet generous, donations have allowed the Foundation Board to donate over $4.4 Million back into local communities since its inception in 2003.

To learn more about Sawnee EMC Foundation’s Operation Round Up Program and the Foundation, visit www.sawnee.com/oru or contact Mandy Love, Director of Marketing, at 678-455-1579 or via email mandy.love@sawnee.com. 

About Sawnee EMC and the Sawnee Foundation
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Cumming, Georgia. Sawnee serves electricity to approximately 197,700 accounts in seven (7) counties of greater north Georgia.  The Sawnee Electric Foundation was created in 2003 with the mission of providing charitable donations within the Sawnee communities. The Foundation exists to enhance the way of life for those in need, with financial assistance to selected charitable organizations. Sawnee always stands ready to meet the needs of its members/owners. SEMC strives daily to live up to their motto…

“At Sawnee EMC, We’re More Than Electricity, We’re Service”.

_{This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.}