Tri-County EMC Celebrates $1 Million in Member Contributions

Operation Roundup is proof that small change changes lives. In 2001, Tri-County EMC elected to start a program that allowed members to round their bill to the next dollar, with that small change going to fund worthy projects within the Tri-County service area. On October 16, Tri-County celebrated Operation Roundup reaching $1 million in member contributions with a special event held at the Tri-County EMC headquarters in Gray. “One of the cooperative’s principles is commitment to community,” said C. Hill Bentley, CEO of Tri-County EMC. “Operation Roundup gives us a way to serve our members, and for our members to serve each other.

Rev. Ron McClung, Chairman of the Tri-County EMC Foundation Board, spoke to how Operation Roundup keeps service local. “Tri-County members contribute small change each month and all of those funds stay within the service area,” said McClung. “Operation Roundup is a program that lets neighbors help neighbors.” Because of those small monthly donations from our generous members, the Tri-County EMC Foundation has granted funds to repair homes, provide scholarships, help with medical needs, support education and many other service projects throughout the service area through Operation Roundup. Grant recipients including Bob Landau from Putnam Community Resources, Julie Wilkerson from the Ronald McDonald House and Jason Wade from Gray United Methodist Church – River of Life, spoke to the crowd about the positive effects Operation Roundup has had on their organizations and the community.

Greg Mullis, Senior VP of Energy Service at Tri-County, noted how much of a difference member contributions make. “Since 2001, more than 600 grant projects have been funded solely by the donations of our members,” said Mullis. “Those projects are proof that it doesn’t matter how much you give, but the collective good from the donations made from Tri-County EMC members really does change lives.”

About Operation Roundup: Operation Roundup is a community development program funded by the voluntary contributions of Tri-County EMC's customers to the Tri-County EMC Foundation. Contributions are made to the foundation when participants elect to have their monthly electric bill rounded up to the next dollar. That small amount of change is then placed into the Tri-County EMC Foundation. Charitable donations are made by the foundation to worthy projects and needs within the eight-county Tri-County EMC service area. Since 2001, more than $1,000,000 in member contributions have been collected with more than 600 grant projects being funded within the Tri-County EMC service area.

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