The board of directors of the Wood County Electric Charitable Foundation (WCECF) recently awarded $45,000 to 4 organizations that serve the citizens of Wood County Electric Cooperative’s 9-county service territory. The total amount given to local groups since the first donation in 2017 has now reached $403,707.
The WCECF is funded by WCEC members through Operation Round Up, whereby members donate pennies each month. When added together, these donations from across the cooperative’s entire membership allow for a significant local impact. Over the life of the program, money has gone to fund food banks, lifesaving equipment, playground projects, civic events, wheelchair ramps and many other worthy causes.
The recipients of these most recent grants, and the projects they will fund are: Hawkins ISD Education Foundation ($7,500), which distributes resources and grants to teachers to be used to enrich learning opportunities at Hawkins ISD; Mineola ISD Education Foundation ($7,500) which awards grants to Mineola ISD staff for tools and programs to be used in the classroom that are not within the normal budget; The Community Food Bank of Franklin County ($25,000) to add a HVAC system and restrooms to their building so they can become more self-sufficient; and The Meals on Wheels Ministry ($5,000) which serves 5 week-day meals annually to over 2,000 clients in Wood, Upshur, Van Zandt and Smith Counties.
About these donations, Trey Teaff, the Foundation’s Executive Director said, “Operation Round Up and the organizations it supports are all shining examples of the exceptional charitable works that bring such light to East Texas Communities. The generosity of our WCEC members is the catalyst behind these extremely meaningful and uplifting gifts.”
Non-profits within the 9-county service territory served by WCEC are eligible to apply for grants, which are awarded twice a year in the spring and the fall. The deadline for applications for the next grant cycle is August 20th. All eligible entities are encouraged to review the qualifications and download the application at our website. As applications are received at the cooperative, they will be held and considered at the foundation’s fall board meeting.