Operation Round Up® Awards More Than $800,000 in Grants

 A year ago this month, Jackson EMC rounded bills for the first time in the Operation Round Up® program. Since then, members have collectively given more than $800,000 in grants to organizations and individuals.

Randall Pugh, Jackson EMC president/CEO, credits the program's success to the participating members. "With 90% participation, our members' generosity and concern for their neighbors is leaving a positive impression in our communities. We are proud of the work members' money is doing in the community. Together, they are making a huge impact on the organizations and individuals in our communities," says Pugh.

The Jackson EMC Foundation Board of Directors awarded a total of $77,153.60 in grants during their July meeting, including $73,653.60 to organizations and $3,500.00 to an individual.

Organizational Grant Recipients:

$7,500 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, to the Lawrenceville and Norcross clubs for supplies and incentives  used in "Power Hour," a comprehensive homework help and tutoring program attended by all club members.

$6,500 to Creative Enterprises of Lawrenceville, to purchase equipment for a computer skills lab program that will help individuals with disabilities to learn keyboarding, Microsoft Word, data entry, email and the Internet, to make them more competitive in today's job market.

$7,500 to the Hall County YMCA to provide scholarships for 10 underprivileged students for the 2006-2007 after-school program.  The after-school program provides children from kindergarten to 8th grade with activities including homework assistance, arts and humanities, science and technology, character development, literacy, service-learning, enrichment classes, health, wellness and fitness.

$5,500 to the Athens-Oconee Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA) to help recruit and train volunteer advocates who work to protect the interests of abused and neglected children, and to find them a safe and permanent home.

$6,000 to the Enotah Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA), serving Lumpkin County, to provide furnishing for the expansion of the CASA office to include a Visitation Center where children who have been removed from their home due to abuse and neglect can have regular, supervised visits with their parents in a safe environment.

$3,000 to the Hall-Dawson Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA) to help cover the cost of training supplies and trainers fee for volunteer advocates who work to protect the interests of abused and neglected children, and to find them a safe and permanent home.

$7,653.60 to the Piedmont Court Appointed Special Advocate Program (CASA), serving Jackson, Banks and Barrow counties, to help recruit and train volunteer advocates who work to protect the interests of abused and neglected children, and to find them a safe and permanent home.

$15,000 to the Hope House of Dahlonega to provide primary medical care for 30 clients who are undergoing treatment to recover from methamphetamine abuse.

$10,000 to the Madison County Habitat for Humanity to assist with the costs of sewer lines to Phase I of its new Habitat Community in Comer, a development where ultimately14-15 simple, well-constructed homes will be built on half-acre lots with green space for gardens and play.

$5,000 to the North Gwinnett Cooperative to help provide Gwinnett County seniors with prescription medicine assistance.

Individual Grant Recipients:

$3,500 to a 60-year-old woman who lives alone and needed a wheelchair lift to improve her mobility.