WCEC Presents $2,500 CoBank Check for Playground Equipment for Alba-Golden Elementary

Today, Wood County Electric Cooperative, Inc. (WCEC), represented by Paige Eaton, Director of Communications, presented a check in the amount of $2,500 to the Alba-Golden Youth Foundation (AGYF) to be used for the Alba-Golden Elementary School Playground Revitalization Program. This check was made possible through one of WCEC’s lenders, CoBank, as part of their Sharing Success Matching Grant Program, and it matches a previous $2,500 donation from WCEC.

The Alba-Golden elementary school playground equipment is old and has fallen into disrepair. For some time now, the Alba-Golden Parent Involvement Committee (AG PIC) has worked to raise funds to buy new equipment with structures built from more durable and modern materials, including plastics and metals that will also offer enhanced safety features. The new equipment will also incorporate age appropriate zones to insure suitable space for pre-K children, as well as the older children.

The project to replace the playground equipment at Alba-Golden Elementary is a significant and financially challenging undertaking by the AG PIC. AlbaGolden Elementary Principal Cody Mize said, “We strive for the best learning environment possible for our students. But we also recognize the important role that the school plays in developing life-long social skills and physical abilities and habits. The plans we have for our new facilities will beautifully enhance all that we do to engage and develop our students on multiple levels. On behalf of the school, I thank both CoBank and WCEC for their valued and generous contributions to our goals.”

When presenting the check for CoBank, Eaton said, “At the cooperative, we place strong emphasis on supporting educational programs. When we were approached about this project, we could see the value. CoBank’s program helped us step up our efforts to a whole different level and we are so pleased that the children of Alba-Golden Elementary could benefit from this.”

CoBank created and endows Sharing Success, which is a $3 million charitable fund designed to benefit cooperatives and the nonprofit groups they support. Under the program CoBank matches contributions made by their cooperative customers to a nonprofit organization of the cooperative’s choice. CoBanks’ intent in creating the program was to draw attention to the critical role cooperatives play in the U.S. rural economy and to highlight the cooperative spirit.

About CoBank

CoBank is a $90 billion cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing, and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water, and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 70,000 farmers, ranchers, and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country. They are headquartered near Denver, Colorado, and serve customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and internationally. For more information about CoBank, visit the bank’s web site at www.cobank.com.

About Wood Country Electric Cooperative

Wood County Electric Cooperative, Inc. is a not-for-profit electric cooperative with the mission of providing member-customers reliable electric service at a reasonable rate. WCEC serves over 34,000 meters in parts of nine counties throughout northeast Texas, including Camp, Franklin, Hopkins, Rains, Smith, Titus, Upshur, Van Zandt, and Wood. Visit our website for further information about WCEC.

Photo Caption: Left to Right Michelle Campbell, president of the Alba-Golden Parent Involvement Committee; Paige Eaton, WCEC Director of Communications; Johnny Teel, President, AGYF; Michael Troyer, Vice President, AGYF and AlbaGolden Elementary Principal Cody Mize celebrate the donations by WCEC and CoBank for the playground equipment drive.

Contact

Paige Eaton, Director of Communications,
Wood County Electric Cooperative, Inc.
P.O. Box 1827
Quitman, TX 75783
Telephone: (903) 763-2203, ext. 260
Email Paige