20 YEARS OF IMPACT: CENTRAL COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
Twenty years ago, a simple idea took root. What if small acts of generosity, pooled together, could create lasting change in our local communities?
Two decades later, the Central Community Foundation has turned that idea into reality for nonprofits and neighbors across Central Rural Electric Cooperative’s service area.
Operation Round Up was not a new concept to the cooperative industry but it was to many Central members. The idea of members voluntarily rounding up their monthly bills to the nearest dollar to provide grants for local organizations to help our local communities.
“We started putting the idea of the foundation together in 2004 or 2005,” said Randy Jarvis, who retired from Central as the vice president of corporate development in 2016. “We had a lot of organizations and groups looking for donations and thought the foundation might be a way to address donation equity across the communities we serve.”
Operation Round Up was founded
in 1989 by a co-op in South Carolina and adopted by Central in 2006. Jarvis spearheaded the program after learning more from other cooperatives that had successfully implemented the program.
“Before the foundation, we weren’t able to make as large of an impact with donations,” said Larry Mattox, Central’s director of communications. “The amount of donations organizations could receive through the foundation became significantly higher and made a much larger impact on those who were helped.”
that met the cooperative’s core values,” Jarvis said.
Today, more than $1.4 million has been donated over the past two decades and has helped hundreds of nonprofits, groups, organizations and local neighbors.
“It’s members giving within specific fields of interest,” Jarvis said. “Once they saw what they were supporting, fire departments and schools, they bought in to the program.”
The monthly donations, which total no more than $11.88 yearly, are pooled together and allocated to a variety of nonprofits, organizations and individuals on a bimonthly basis.
“It became a good way to support communities equitably through the foundation, a way to support causes
Every dollar granted, every neighbor helped and every life impacted is made possible by Central members. For 20 years, members have helped turn small contributions into meaningful change.
“It’s heartwarming that somebody had a vision that their co-op could help their community in a significant way,” Jarvis said. “It’s what the co-op is about, neighbors helping neighbors.”
Randy Jarvis presents a Central Community Foundation grant to the Cushing Fire Department.
MARCH 2026
Central Board of Trustees:
Sid Sperry, President (District 4)
Greg Tytenicz, Vice President (District 2)
Ken Starks, Secretary/Treasurer (District 5)
Randy Wedel (District 1)
Melanie McGuire (District 3)
James Wells (District 6)
Randy Ethridge (District 7)
Executive Team:
Shane Burgess - Chief Executive Officer
Sondra White - Chief Financial Officer
Mark Prather - President of Fiber and Technology
Jillianne Tebow - Vice President of Brand Strategy and Engagement
Empowered Editors:
Larry Mattox - Director of Marketing and Communications
Kory Bowman - Marketing and Communications Specialist
Ivy Swan - Marketing and Communications Specialist Contact Us: editor@mycentral.coop 405-372-2884 | 800-375-2884
3305 S. Boomer Rd. | P.O. Box 1809 Stillwater, OK 74076 mycentral.coop facebook.com/MyCentralCoop instagram.com/MyCentralCoop
Central
A LOOK BACK AT THE 2025 IMPACT
In 2025, the Central Community Foundation continued its mission of strengthening communities and improving lives across Central’s service area.
Thanks to the generosity of members who round up their monthly bills and the dedication of the board members, the foundation made meaningful investments where they were needed most.
From supporting local nonprofits and first responders to funding classroom innovation and assisting families facing hardship, every dollar awarded reflected the cooperative spirit that defines Central’s membership.
As we reflect on the foundation’s accomplishments, we are reminded that the true strength of a cooperative lies in its people. Together, we’re empowering our communities for a brighter future.
16,543 MEMBER ACCOUNTS
$83,238 TO COMMUNITIES THROUGH
70 GRANTS
POWERED BY CENTRAL MEMBERS
At Central, community is more than a service area; it’s at the heart of the cooperative. Each year, the generosity of Central members turns small acts of giving into meaningful change across the communities Central serves.
Through the Central Community Foundation, members help support local nonprofits, strengthen essential programs and provide assistance to neighbors when it’s needed most.
The data highlighted tells an important story. Behind every dollar granted and every project supported are real people, students with greater opportunities, families finding stability and organizations better equipped to serve others.
What makes this impact especially powerful is that it stays local. The collective generosity of Central members ensures that support reaches the communities we call home.
Together, we are proving that when neighbors come together with a shared purpose, even small contributions can lead to lasting change. Thank you for continuing to power the foundation’s mission and for helping build stronger communities.
What is the Central Community Foundation?
The Central Community Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping those who live within Central’s seven-county service area by distributing Operation Round Up funds.
Who can apply for funding?
Local nonprofit organizations, schools, community groups and individuals located within Central’s service area can apply for grants. Each applicant’s need must align with the foundation’s guidelines.
Who decides who receives the funds?
Central Community Foundation board members, who are also Central members, meet every other month to review and approve grant applications.
How do you apply for a grant?
Grants are due on the 15th of every other month. Apply on the Central Community Foundation website at mycentral.foundation.
How do i get involved?
Participate in Operation Round Up or Operation Round Up Plus.
Learn more by scanning the QR on page 2 or by visiting mycentral.foundation.
NOMINATE A NONPROFIT!
The Central Community Foundation is celebrating 20 years, and Central is celebrating by giving back in a big way, with your help!
Central members are invited to nominate a deserving nonprofit for the chance to receive a $500 grant.
Know a nonprofit that’s making a difference in our communities?
Nominate them online now through April 8!
After nominations close, the foundation’s board will select the top nonprofits to move on to a social media showdown, where members can cast their votes and help decide the winners. In the end, two nonprofits will each receive a $500 grant to continue their important work.
Submit your nomination by scanning the QR code or by visiting mycentral.coop.
CALLING EIGHTH-GRADE STUDENTS
ENERGY CAMP APPS NOW OPEN
Imagine climbing to the top of a utility pole, soaring above the trees in a bucket truck and discovering how electricity powers your home, all while making new friends from across Oklahoma.
This summer, Central is giving two local eighth-grade students the chance to do just that at Youth Power Energy Camp, an actionpacked, four-day leadership experience designed to spark confidence, curiosity and a deeper understanding of the energy that connects our communities.
The four-day camp, hosted in Hinton, Okla., is designed to help students grow through leadership development, team building and hands-on learning.
Each year, more than 80 students from electric cooperatives across the state attend Energy Camp. There, students explore how electricity is generated, and learn about electrical safety and how rural electrification transformed communities across the United States.
To apply, students must be currently in eighth grade or entering eighth grade in the fall. They must complete an application and submit a 500word essay. Applications are due by April 17.
For more information about Energy Camp, application requirements, or to submit an application, scan the QR code or visit mycentral.coop/ energycamp.
