Over $168,000 in People Fund grants awarded to local groups in 2014

Jan. 6, 2015
Great Lakes Energy, with the help of its members, continues its commitment to local communities through the People Fund. During 2014, the People Fund awarded $168,457 in grants to charitable and community organizations. The Great Lakes Energy People Fund is supported solely by Great Lakes Energy members who allow their electric cooperative to round up their bill each month to the next dollar.
The grant funds were awarded to 63 charitable and community organizations throughout Great Lakes Energy’s 26-county service area, which stretches from Kalamazoo to the Mackinac Straits.
“Thanks to the generosity of our members, we’ve awarded more than $2.67 million in grants since 1999 to local non-profit groups and organizations,” says President/CEO Steve Boeckman. “The local communities in our service area benefit greatly from this program that is fully funded by our members who allow their bill to be rounded up to the nearest dollar each month.”
Members of the electric cooperative who wish to participate are encouraged to enroll in the People Fund by contacting any Great Lakes Energy office.
“People may not think 50 cents a month can do much, but when added with the contributions of other Great Lakes Energy members, we are able to help so many,” explains Boeckman. “Giving back to the community is one of the cooperative principles and we couldn’t do it without our members’ generosity.”