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(Cumming, Georgia, November 27, 2018) – Local non-profits are busier than ever helping residents in our community with rent, clothing, food and educational resources. Especially as the holidays approach us. This is possible because of generous donations from people like the Sawnee EMC members who participate in the Cooperative’s Operation Round-Up Program. They voluntarily round up their Sawnee bill, donating the extra change to the Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation (Foundation), to enrich the lives of others.

Through its Operation Round Up program, the Foundation recently awarded $26,110 to twelve (12) local charities and another $13,688.71 to twelve (12) schools. The local charitable organizations receiving funds are:

  1. St. Vincent de Paul Christ Redeemer – funds will be used to help Dawson residents with food and rent
  2. Johns Creek Arts Center – will use their grant to purchase items for the Small, Small World program
  3. The Children’s Center for Hope and Healing – will use their grant to assist Forsyth children who are victims of abuse
  4. Senior Services North Fulton – will use their grant to purchase needed items for homebound senior citizens
  5. Good Shepherd Clinic of Dawson Co.will use their grant to assist with medication for Dawson residents that visit their clinic
  6. The Fellowship of Christian Athletes in Forsyth Co. – funds will be used to sponsor one program in a local high school
  7. Cumming Home Ministries – funds will be used to support the shelter for homeless men
  8. Hall-Dawson CASA Program – funds will be used to recruit new CASA advocates in the Dawson area
  9. Anna Crawford Children’s Center- funds will be used to help abused children
  10. Jesse’s House – will use grant to remodel kitchen and fix plumbing
  11. Sawnee Woman’s Club –will use grant to purchase 700 reusable bags that will be distributed at Title 1 schools and events for senior citizens
  12. Fill Ministries – grant will be used for the food program

The “Bright Ideas” classroom grants were awarded to:

  1. Black’s Mill Elementary: Mandy Smith
  2. North Forsyth High: Kris Kassalen, Brandy Gibson, Kim Strube
  3. Matt Elementary: Debi Carnaroli
  4. Indian Knoll Elementary: Jennifer Lewis
  5. Kilough Elementary: Kim Bennett, Amy Tankersley
  6. Dawson County High: Kate Jarrard,
  7. Whitlow Elementary: Carla Miles, Amberly Wood, Stephanie Harbin

Interested applicants are required to submit an application to the Foundation Board for consideration. In order to qualify for a grant, the 501 (c) (3) charity must be located in Sawnee EMC’s service area and/or provide services within the area. Teachers may also apply for funds through the Bright Ideas program, which is part of Operation Round Up.  A public or private teacher is eligible to apply for funding as long as the school he or she teaches is within the Sawnee EMC service area.

These programs are made possible by the generous Sawnee EMC members who choose to round their monthly electric bill up to the next highest dollar.  This “extra change” goes directly into the Sawnee Foundation and is gifted back into the communities Sawnee EMC serves. The average donation a member makes annually is $6.00… just pennies a month. These “small” donations have allowed the Foundation Board to donate over $2.5 Million back into the communities since inception in 2003.

High School seniors should also be on the lookout for the 2019 Youth Scholarship Application located on the Sawnee EMC website now!

For more information about the Operation Round Up program, please call Cindy Badgett, Director of External Affairs at 678-455-1399 or email cindy.badgett@sawnee.com.

About the Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation
The mission of the Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation (Foundation) is to assist in strengthening the communities served by Sawnee EMC. The Foundation will accomplish this mission by providing financial assistance to selected charitable organizations through the Foundation’s Operation Round Up program. To date, the Foundation has awarded over $2.5 million back to our communities.

About Sawnee EMC
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Cumming, Georgia. Sawnee serves electricity to approximately 178,800 accounts in seven (7) counties of greater north Georgia. Sawnee’s assets exceed $642 million, with energy sales of 3.37 billion kWh and annual revenue of $313 million. With a team of approximately 330 dedicated professionals and over 10,896 miles of distribution line, Sawnee stands ready at all times 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