community non-profits gathered at the Cook County Community Center for brownies and lemon bars—and grants— on Tuesday, October 19. The host of the gathering? The Arrowhead Electric Cooperative Inc. Operation Round Up Trust.
Arrowhead Electric Operation Round Up grants were distributed on Tuesday, October 19 with cooperative member-donated funds going to a variety of local non-profits. At the distribution of grants were (L-R, front) Roseanne and Bridget Cooley for Early Childhood Family Education; Operation Round Up president Sue Prom; Christina Anderson for Birch Grove Community School. (L-R, back) Jeanne Anderson for School District 166 PTA; Ilena Berg for Cook County Kids Plus; Suzan From for Schroeder Area Historical Society; and Dorie Carlson for the Cook County Middle School/High School Enrichment Program.
Operation Round Up is the program that allows customers of the electric cooperative to “round up” their electrical bill each month and contribute the extra change to worthy community causes. Sue Prom, president of the Operation Round Up Trust, expressed thanks to the cooperative members who have joined Operation Round Up. She noted that of all her volunteer activities, Operation Round Up is one of the most enjoyable. “I get to give away money to help local organizations,” said Prom. “It is fun to be part of the success of these different organizations.”
With that, Prom and Arrowhead Electric Customer Service Representative Georgene Daubanton presented checks totaling $7,895.47 to the following organizations: • The Schroeder Area Historical Society’s Cross River Heritage Center received $900 toward the $1,695 it needs to purchase a new computer system to continue its archival work and creation of storyboards for an upcoming exhibit of the area schools. Heritage Center
Director Suzan From said, “Thiswill help
the historical society’s work a lot.” • The Cook County Middle School/ High School Enrichment Program received $500 to help with a portion of the costs to send students to three Knowledge Bowl competitions in Mountain Iron. Middle School Teacher and Knowledge Bowl Coach Dorie Carlson arrived just in time to accept the check; she had just returned from
another successful Knowledge Bowl
competition with her protégés. • The Cook County Historical Society received $900 for an LCD projector/ DVD player, speakers and microphone system for museum presentations such
as its Small Talks
and the Elementary
Schools Passport Program. • The Early Childhood Family Education Program (ECFE) received $1,474.47 to purchase new landing mats for the Open Gym program, which allows children ages 0 to 5 years to play inside during the cold winter months. Rosanne Cooley and her daughter, Bridget, happily accepted the check for ECFE. • The School District 166 PTA received $3,000 to be used toward the purchase of a mobile computer lab and 30 laptop computers for grades four through eight. Jeanne Anderson of the PTA gratefully
accepted the check for the students who
would benefit from the computers. • Birch Grove Community School received $621 toward the $2,305.50 cost of the fourth and fifth grade field trips to Wolf Ridge Environmental Center. Teacher Christina Anderson said the Birch Grove students have raised $750 toward the trip. “This trip is a great
learning experience,” said Anderson.
“Thank you.” • Cook County Kids Plus received $500 to purchase materials for the Halloween party and haunted house. Kids Plus Coordinator Ilena Berg accepted the check with thanks and added, “It happens right here at the Community
Center—come on out and have fun!”
Operation Round Up is a volunteer program, which began in August of 2002. Each month, Arrowhead Electric “rounds up” electric bills of participating members to the next dollar. The average annual contribution from a cooperative member would be $6.00. The most a member could contribute annually would be $11.88. Contributions made to the Operation Round Up Trust are used to provide financial support in areas including community service, economic development, education and youth, environment, emergency energy assistance, and disaster relief.
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