Two Caldwell County Organizations Receive Grants from Blue Ridge Electric Members Foundation
For Immediate Release
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383, Ext. 3213; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
Lenoir, North Carolina (January 22, 2008) – A non-profit organization in Caldwell County will be able to provide appropriate dental care for needy children and another will offer a safety program for young students as a result of grants recently awarded by the Blue Ridge Electric Members Foundation.
The Caldwell County Health Department was awarded a grant of $4,000 to replace old dental drills in its children’s clinic and the Lenoir Rescue Squad received $5,000 for the “Andy Be Safe” program for students enrolled in pre-kindergarten through middle school.
Checks totaling $31,400 were recently presented by the Foundation to nine different organizations throughout the service area of Blue Ridge Electric. The Foundation was established by Blue Ridge Electric to support the work of community organizations that offer valuable services to the cooperative’s members and improve their quality of life. Projects in the areas of health and wellness, education and youth, economic and community development, and quality of life are the Foundation’s priorities.
Funds come from Operation Round Up, where members of Blue Ridge Electric voluntarily “round up” their electric bills to the nearest dollar, and from Blue Ridge Energies, the cooperative’s heating fuels subsidiary that provides propane, heating fuels and energy-related products to residential and business consumers in northwest North Carolina.
Grant funding decisions are recommended by a Foundation Advisory Committee which is comprised of 12 representatives from Blue Ridge Electric’s service area. Grants are approved by the cooperative’s board of directors.
Non-profit agencies in the service area of Blue Ridge Electric are eligible to apply for grants. A total of nine agencies were awarded grants during the fall cycle. The deadline for the spring 2008 grant cycle is March 31. Anyone with questions about the Foundation, and agencies interested in applying for grants, may contact Patty Wheeler, foundation manager, at 828-758-2383, ext. 4207.
Blue Ridge Electric is a Touchstone Energy affiliate and member-owned electric cooperative utility serving more than 70,000 consumers in Caldwell, Alexander, Watauga, Wilkes, Ashe, Avery and Alleghany counties.
