Fund Awards Community Grants

Lisa Porat knew she couldn’t wait for the photographer’s photos to be ready. The Mentor and Parent Organization President of Center Grove High School’s Red Alert Robotics had a room full of students waiting to see the picture of Porat and senior team member Jacob Galyean holding that check—the one that read $4,972.59. She smiled as she handed her phone to a bystander for a picture and explained how excited the students were to upgrade their team computers.

The robotics team is one of 17 organizations receiving a total of  $48,758.97 in Operation Round-Up® Community Grants awarded by the JCREMC Community Fund in Fall 2019.

Operation Round-Up® is a voluntary program at utility cooperatives nationwide. Participating JCREMC consumers allow their monthly electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest whole dollar, which averages about $6 per consumer annually. The rounded-up amount goes into the JCREMC Community Fund, which is overseen by a volunteer advisory board and administered by the Johnson County Community Foundation. Grants are awarded to local non-profit organizations.

In addition to Red Alert Robotics, funded organizations are:

• Needham Elementary PTO: Climbing Wall Project – $4,485
• Partnership for a Healthier Johnson County: Pedals of Joy Program – $1,000
• Johnson County Public Library Foundation: Explore Summer Program – $3,000
• Purdue Extension Johnson County; Johnson County 4H: Nature of Teaching Program – $479.97
• Trafalgar Community Garden: Garden Expansion Project – $700
• St. Rose of Lima Catholic School: Library Update Project – $1,200
• Johnson County Senior Services: Transportation Addition Project – $5,000
• Resources of Hope, Inc.: Birthday Blessings Program – $1,000
• Habitat for Humanity of Johnson County: Soup Bowl Program – $5,000
• Trafalgar Volunteer Fire Department: Fire Nozzle Replacement Project – $5,000
• Indiana FFA Foundation: Recreational Area LED Lighting Upgrade Project – $4,000
• Johnson County Autism Support Group, Inc.: Camp Can Do Program – $1,000
• Indian Creek Intermediate School: STEAM Museum Family Night – $5,000
• Turning Point Domestic Violence Services-Johnson County: Outreach Equipment – $2,421.41
• Girls Inc. of Franklin/Johnson County: Summer Camp Program – $3,000
• Johnson County 4H Paw Pounders Dog Club: Mats and Fencing – $1,500

Operation Round-Up® Community Grants applications are available in April and October and recipients are notified in May and November. Learn more at jcremc.com/operation-round-up.

Winter 2020 – Download the PDF version.