Sioux Valley Energy and its members are spreading holiday cheer by giving a boost to groups and organizations in their local communities. During the most recent quarterly meeting of the Sioux Valley Energy Customers’ Trust Board of Directors, $37,100 in grants were awarded by the Cooperative’s Operation Round Up® program. An additional $5,000 was reserved for scholarships.
Recipients included:
Arlington, South Dakota
Kelly McGeough Foundation – $1,500 to cover gas, food and lodging for extended medical stays
Brandon, South Dakota
Brandon Valley Hockey Association – $1,200 to provide base cabinets and countertops in the concession stand area
This is the Way Foundation – $750 to purchase Sioux Falls Skyforce tickets for families who are currently battling pediatric cancer
Brookings, South Dakota
Allegro Academy – $1,500 to provide scholarships for individual music lessons for students demonstrating financial need
Boys & Girls Club of Brookings – $1,500 to purchase new and replacement game tables
Brookings Back Pack Project – $1,500 to purchase food to send home in back packs
Project Joy – $1,500 to help support the annual holiday store, which provides gifts for children and families in need in the Brookings area
Chester, South Dakota
Chester American Legion Post 136 – $1,000 to construct a light to illuminate the flags in the center of the memorial
Colton, South Dakota
Colton Senior Citizens – $1,000 to help rent location for each quarter
Flandreau, South Dakota
Boys & Girls Club of Moody County – $1,500 to purchase 3D printer bundles to enhance STEM education
Moody County 4-H Leader’s Association – $750 to update a power sound mixer, two wireless mics and boxes, purchase a tabletop mic, proper storage for units plus installation
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3351 – $2,000 to help purchase pork loin, buns, plates, and napkins for a poker run
Garretson, South Dakota
Garretson Economic Development – $500 for 4th of July Spectacular
Garretson PTO – $1,000 to purchase last phase of playground project
Luverne, Minnesota
Back Pack Program – $1,500 to purchase easy-to-prepare food items for children in financial need to have weekend meals at home
Madison, South Dakota
Madison Regional Health Foundation – $1,000 to help purchase lifesaving medical and critical care monitoring equipment, scholarships, and to strengthen key departments
Sunset Harbor Homeowners Association – $1,000 for materials and cost of welding to install a railing on boat dock
Pipestone, Minnesota
City of Pipestone Lights at the Lodge – $1,000 to enhance entrance to the park with holiday lights, themed displays, and power cords
GrowSWMN – $800 to purchase swings for GF Kennedy Park
St. Paul Lutheran Church Preschool – $1,000 to purchase a four-seat steel teeter-totter toy for outdoor play time
Ramona, South Dakota
Town of Ramona – $1,200 to strengthen the batter’s box, concrete the batting cage floor, and extend piping of the backstop to hang a safety net
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Scouting America, Sioux Council – $1,500 to help sustain and expand youth development programs
Call to Freedom – $1,200 to support youth prevention training activities
Lost & Found Association – $1,500 to provide curriculum for training workshops and presentations for young adults, parents, community leaders, and educators for suicide prevention
Owen’s Outfitters – $1,500 to complete the new warehouse setup to serve clients in a safe, clean, and organized setting
Sioux Falls Area Humane Society – $1,000 to purchase two new tablets with keyboards to strengthen essential community services
SiouxperCon – $1,500 in funding to host and provide safe STEM and arts learning opportunities for all ages
TSC Twisters – $500 for uniforms and training equipment
Washington Pavilion Management, Inc. – $2,000 to offset the expenses for the new afterschool theatre program
Volga, South Dakota
Brookings County K9 Search and Rescue – $500 to purchase a special GPS unit used for area search dogs
White, South Dakota
Dolphin Foundation – $1,200 to provide additional concrete at the athletic complex
More than $2.5 million has been donated to area non-profits, schools, and communities since the year 2000 when Sioux Valley Energy started its Operation Round Up® (ORU) program. The program is simple – participating members “round up” their electric bill to the next high dollar and those “rounded up” funds are placed into a trust. Additionally, many Sioux Valley Energy employees donate from their paycheck each month. Each quarter the Operation Round Up Board of Trustees meets to review applications and consider grant requests.
A list of recent grant recipients, as well as information on how local organizations can apply for funding, can be found at https://www.siouxvalleyenergy.com/operation-round-up
The next deadline to apply for funding is February 20 with grants being awarded in March.