Great Lakes Energy donates $7,500 to Oceana Co. in 2018. 

January 10, 2019

Great Lakes Energy donates $7,500 to Oceana Co. in 2018. 

Great Lakes Energy People Fund donated $7,500 to Oceana County non-profit organizations or municipalities in 2018. In total, the People Fund awarded $218,770 throughout the state. The Great Lakes Energy People Fund is supported solely by Great Lakes Energy members who allow their electric cooperative to round up their bill each month to the next dollar.

The grants funds were awarded to 64 charitable and community organizations throughout Great Lakes Energy’s 26-county service area, which stretches from Kalamazoo to the Mackinac Straits. 

“Thanks to the generosity of our members we’ve awarded more than $3.5 million in grants since 1999 to local non-profits groups and organizations,” said President/CEO Bill Scott. “The local communities in our service area benefit greatly from this program that is fully funded by our members who allow their bill to be rounded up to the nearest dollar each month. 

Members of the electric cooperative who wish to participate are encouraged to enroll in the People Fund online at gtlakes.com or by contacting Great Lakes Energy’s office.

“People may not think 50 cents a month can do much, but when added with the contributions of other Great Lakes Energy members, we are able to help so many,” explains Scott. “Giving back to the community is one of the cooperative principles and we couldn’t do it without our members’ generosity.”

The following Oceana County groups received People Fund grants in 2018: 

  • Hart Area Public Library: $1,000 for a Ozobot robot kit for children.
  • Love INC of Oceana County, Shelby: $1,500 for a gas card incentive to encourage enrollment in the reNEW program classes on life skills.
  • Oceana Conservation District, Shelby: $3,000 for an environmental education program for school-age and preschool children.
  • Oceana County Council on Aging, Hart: $2,000 for a washer and dryer for the Adult Day Care home.

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