Operation Round Up Foundation, Inc. By Bob McGaughy, Board Chair
As I sat down to write this letter for the 2019 Energy Cooperative Annual Report, my emotions kept vacillating between jubilation and shock. As chair of the Energy Cooperative Operation Round Up Foundation Board, I take great pride in the fact that our charitable organization distributed $275,947.00 to seventy-four organizations in twenty different communities throughout the Energy Cooperative service area during 2019. In that same period, Operation Round Up awarded $27,500.00 in scholarships to eleven students, one an established college student and the rest seniors from area high schools. Each student received $2,500.00 to help meet their educational endeavors. Those facts were the source of my jubilation. My shock stemmed from the fact that my wife and I only contributed $4.11 by rounding up our Energy Cooperative bill to benefit Operation Round Up between January and December. This small donation helped to make it possible for the Operation Round Up Foundation to make a big difference in our member communities. Where else could $4.11 make such a big difference? In reflecting on the Operation Round Up Foundation accomplishments, I was reminded of a recent horoscope of mine that read, “Givers are even happier than takers. Getting out to do something for someone else will lift your spirits. If you are already feeling good, such acts will only take you higher.” All members of the Operation Round Up Foundation must be feeling really good as they truly did
something good, a lot of good in fact, for their friends and neighbors during 2019. Last year, a total of $275,947.00 made a big difference to a lot of people and programs and the Operation Round Up Board asked me to say thank you to those who made such a successful year possible. Your donations helped to add automated external defibrillators (AED’s) at public parks and schools, revitalized a playground in Mt. Vernon and expanded the shelter for lost animals at the Humane Society in Newark. A lot of spirits were lifted by givers and certainly by receivers as a result of this program.
But it gets even better because since our founding in 2005, the Round Up Board has awarded $3.4 million in grants and scholarships. We can all be very proud that we have done so much for others and made so much possible. I am truly proud and honored to be serving on the Round Up Board and I assure you that fellow board members, Beth Barker, Kelly Brenneman, Tom Graham, Jeff Kovalik, Bryan Melsheimer and CEO Todd Ware have all been very conscientious in reviewing the nearly one hundred applications that came before us this past year. They and the entire Energy Cooperative family join me in thanking those who have made great things possible this past year and we are excited about the many possibilities and opportunities to come before us in 2020.
“Thank you to our members! With an average annual donation of less than $10, we have donated $3,454,970.67 back into our communities since 2005.” – Bob McGaughy Operation Round Up Chair, Bob McGaughy accepting a donation from The Energy Cooperative President & CEO, Todd Ware
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