Tipmont awards $12,571 in grants to 7 area nonprofits

Next applications for Operation Round Up funds due October 4, 2010; open to nonprofits in Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery and Tippecanoe counties

Tipmont REMC is awarding grants totaling $12,571 to seven area nonprofits through its Operation Round Up program. Awards are made quarterly and open to 501(c)3 groups in Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery and Tippecanoe counties.

Current grants are going to:

• In Clinton County: $3,000 to the Colfax-Perry Township Public Library for cabinets and counters to develop a children’s activity area and $700 to The Learning Network for books for the First Books for Kids program.
• In Montgomery County: $1,700 to Montgomery County Family Nutrition Program for school bags and supplies for children in need.
• Tippecanoe County: $2,200 to Thomas Duncan Hall Inc. for fees and supplies for local first graders to attend its Manners are Fun program; $920 to Family Promise of Greater Lafayette for a laptop computer to assist families in transition; $2,050 to the Purdue Arboretum for interpretive signage for students visiting from local schools; and $2,001 to the YWCA of Greater Lafayette for electronic equipment to aid in training volunteers and staff for its domestic violence prevention program.

The grants are funded by the electric company’s members, who allow their monthly bills to be rounded up to the next highest dollar each month. More than 9,100 Tipmont REMC members participate. Since the program began in 1999, Tipmont has distributed $704,501.35 to nonprofits in several counties.

“This simple method of collecting pennies that quickly become dollars, then hundreds of dollars, has been very popular with our members, who eagerly contribute to help others,” said Tim McCarthy, Tipmont chief executive officer. “Tipmont rounds up their bills to the next highest dollar, facilitating that giving avenue. And our members know every dime is spent right here in Tipmont territory.”

One of the largest benefactors in the region, Tipmont’s Operation Round Up is the only one collecting donations by rounding up bills, he said.

The application deadline for the next cycle is Monday, October 4, 2010. Nonprofit organizations in Tipmont’s service area who are interested in applying for funds may obtain an application online at www.tipmont.org or call 1-800-726-3953.

Tipmont also contributes to the community through its EnviroWatts green power program, which funds environmental projects. The two funds combined have given awards of more than $977,000 since their implementation.

Founded in 1939 and headquartered in Linden, Tipmont REMC is a member-owned cooperative providing electric service to some 20,800 members, primarily in Clinton, Fountain, Montgomery and Tippecanoe counties.

Tipmont is a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, a national alliance of local, member-owned electric cooperatives providing high standards of service and dedicated to serving members with integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community.