Operation Round Up Trust Board kicks off 2010 with nearly $28,000 in grant awards

January 2010

The ECE Operation Round Up® Trust Board welcomed three new members and awarded nearly $28,000 in grants to non-profit organizations when it met Tuesday, January 26.

ECE members Gene Pals, Pine City, MN, Liane Heupel, Mora, MN, and Larry Nelson, Harris, MN, were appointed by the ECE Board of Directors to fill the expired terms on the independent Operation Round Up Trust Board. These individuals will serve a three-year term, after which they will be eligible for re-appointment to a second term.

Twelve local organizations received funding from ORU in the winter grant cycle. The money will help equip a county sheriff's department, assist an area food co-op, help replace a community playground, and provide materials and equipment for local choral and instrumental groups.

Operation Round Up is made possible by the generous contributions of ECE members who agree to have their monthly electric bill rounded up to the next dollar. The trust board meets quarterly to review grant applications submitted by non-profit organizations which serve ECE members and to disburse funding. More than $1 million has been put to work in local communities since Operation Round Up was launched in 1997.

Grant recipients for the winter cycle include:

Isanti County MN Sheriff's Department: $7,560 to assist with the purchase of one video camera system for squad cars, hardware for a ZRT video camera and software to assist officers in acquiring data from seized cell phones.

City of Henriette, MN: $1,500 to assist with the purchase of appliances for the new city hall.

Changing Gaits, Mora, MN: $1,250 to help the equine therapy program provide sessions for individuals and families who are severely affected by the economic downturn.

Community Harbor/Harbor Room Cancer Resource Center, Cambridge, MN: $540 to assist with the cost of space rental.

East Central Grad Band: $3,600 to assist the 39-member band with space rental and the purchase of a musical instrument and music for use in its regional performances.

East Central Minnesota Chorale: $1,000 to assist the regional choral group with the cost of producing a brochure.

Mille Lacs Area Food Co-op, Isle, MN: $3,300 to help with the costs of re-locating to a more visible building on the community's main street.

Seniors Helping Hands/Elder Network, St. Cloud, MN: $1,000 to assist with mileage reimbursement for the trained volunteers who visit seniors experiencing emotional distress.

Cambridge Isanti Competitive Baseball, Cambridge, MN: $1,500 to help pay baseball program fees for youth who could not participate without financial support.

City of Hinckley, MN: $2,000 to assist with the purchase of new playground equipment for Westside Park where the old equipment was removed due to age and deterioration.

ISD #473, Isle, MN: $1,000 to assist with the purchase of materials for an after-school safety activity.

Braham, MN Area Kinderstep: $3,570 to assist with scholarships for students who would be unable to attend without financial support.

ECE members who would like to join the Operation Round Up program can sign up by calling 1-800-254-7944. Non-profit organizations which serve ECE members can contact Tina Lanhart, 763-691-2065, if they are interested in applying for an Operation Round Up grant.