GEC Foundation Makes Awards

The trustees of the GEC Community Foundation, Inc. met Aug. 24 and awarded $5,618.96 in grant allocations to recipients in Grundy, Mercer and Harrison counties in Missouri.

Foundation President Cliff Addison and Trustee Glenda Homedale presented the awards during Grundy Electric Cooperative’s 71st annual meeting on Sept. 3 at the Ketcham Community Center. Successful recipients included the Trenton Middle School, Trenton; Gilman City R-4 School, Gilman City; Ridgeway R-5 School, Ridgeway; South Harrison R-2 School, Bethany; and North Mercer R-2 School, Mercer.
Since 2005, the GEC Community Foundation, Inc. has awarded 180 grants totaling over $136,901.92 to schools and community organizations. The foundation assists qualifying schools and organizations with grant monies in the areas of education, health and rural development. The funds are open to eligible entities within Grundy Electric Cooperative’s 12-county service area, which includes Harrison, Mercer and Grundy counties and portions of Linn, Livingston, Daviess, Gentry, Putnam, and Sullivan counties in Missouri and portions of Ringgold, Wayne and Decatur counties in Iowa.
The foundation, which is operated on a volunteer basis, is primarily funded through the Operation Round-Up Program. This program allows GEC members and customers of the Public Water Supply District Number 1 of Grundy County to voluntarily “round up” their utility bill to the next even dollar. The PWSD Round-Up funds are disbursed solely to projects located in Grundy County. For an average of $6 per year participating patrons assist in funding local community projects.
The next grant application deadline is Nov. 1. Qualified applicants must be a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization or other eligible entity and may apply for a grant by completing a grant application with supporting information. Grant applications are available at www.grundyec.com or by calling Grundy Electric Cooperative at 660-359-3941 or toll free 1-800-279-2249, ext. 23 or 33.