Date: November 20, 2006
Contact: Cindy Badgett, Director of External Affairs
Subject: Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation Donates
$44,054 to Seven Local Charities
On November 14, 2006, the Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation made the holidays a little brighter for seven (7) local charities. The Foundation board approved the awarding of $44,054 at their fourth quarter board meeting. The charities will utilize these much needed funds to complete projects that will enrich the lives of those that are less fortunate and better the communities they serve. “These donations provide local charities with a monetary gift that will allow them to provide assistance to those that need it most. The Foundation is the perfect vehicle for our generous members to pool their money together and help others in there community”, states Blake House, Vice President of Marketing and Member Services, Sawnee EMC.
Funds are awarded through an application process and approved by the Foundation’s volunteer Board of Directors. Recipients in the fourth quarter gifting cycle were:
· Bethany Place (Merismos Ministries) – Ms. Sandy Reed, Director, accepted a check for $6,104 to be used to complete ceilings in the shelter in Cherokee County.
· Foster Care Support Foundation, Inc. – Ms. Rachel Ewald, Founder/CEO, accepted a check for $10,000 to be used to purchase clothes and other needed supplies for foster children within the Sawnee EMC service territory. This organization is located in North Fulton.
· Canine Assistants – Tib Holland, Development Director, accepted a check for $15,000. The funds will be used to sponsor a service dog. This organization is located in North Fulton.
· Healing Hooves – Leslie Halpern, Executive Director, accepted a check for $5,000 to purchase a trailer for the miniature horses used for pet therapy throughout the Sawnee EMC service territory.
· Girl Scouts of Northeast Georgia, Inc. – LaDon Shaw, Development Director, accepted a check for $1,000 to enclose a platform tent at the Girl Scout camp on Lake Lanier. This tent is handicap accessible.
· Special Populations Tennis Program, Inc. – Jim Hamm, Executive Director, accepted a check for $1,350. The funds will be used to purchase equipment, t-shirts, refreshments, participation medals and facilities for the athletes. This program offers children and adults with mental disabilities the opportunity to play tennis and compete.
· Special Holiday Donation – Each holiday season, the Foundation board awards a special holiday donation to a charity they feel is in great need at this time of year. This year, the Foundation Board has approved $5,600 to help the underprivileged children in the seven (7) counties that Sawnee EMC serves. Hopefully, these funds will allow these children to have a happy holiday season that they might not have experienced otherwise.
Participating Sawnee EMC members are contributing pennies, yet are making a great impact on the lives they touch through their generosity. Since the programs inception in 2003, the Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation has donated over $273,000 to local charitable organizations. “This program has the ability to reach all of the charitable organizations within our service territory.” stated Cindy Badgett, Director of External Affairs. “We are now accepting applications for the first quarter gifting for 2007”. Sawnee EMC members can elect to participate in the Operation Round Up program by contacting our customer service team, checking the round up amount on their bill or by signing up online. For more information, contact Cindy Badgett, Director of External Affairs at 678-455-1539 or cindy.badgett@sawnee.com.
Sawnee EMC adopted the Operation Round Up program in April 2003. Through a voluntary sign up process, members are able to have their electric bills rounded up to the next whole dollar, donating the extra change to the Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation. By donating the change to Operation Round Up, members can be sure that 100% of the donation will go to qualifying 501 (c)(3) or 501 (c)(4) charities within the communities that Sawnee EMC serves. To sign up today, call Customer Service at 770-887-2363 or sign up by visiting Sawnee’s website at www.sawnee.com. The website is also a great place to find the complete list of organizations that have received gifts and to access an application to receive funding.
About Sawnee EMC:
Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation is an electric distribution cooperative headquartered in Cumming, Georgia. Sawnee serves electricity to over 140,000 accounts in seven counties of greater north Georgia. Sawnee assets exceed $370 million with annual energy sales of 2.56 billion kWh and revenue of $222 million. They have over 300 dedicated employees making up a team of professionals that meets the needs of the members/owners through a complex network of over 8,300 miles of distribution lines. Sawnee EMC is the 9th largest EMC in the United States.
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