Columbus, OH—Cooperatives are known for supporting each other in times of need, and there is no greater time of need than when a child loses their cooperative employee parent while that parent is working for the cooperative, serving others. It was the purpose behind the formation of the Cooperative Family Fund, and this week, The Community Foundation of ˿϶Ƶ's Electric Cooperatives, showed its support for the new non-profit organization with a donation of $2,500.
Representatives from The Community Foundation of ˿϶Ƶ's Electric Cooperatives' presented the check to Tony Anderson on Thursday, June 8, 2023 in South Carolina. Doug Miller and Pat O'Loughlin, both of ˿϶Ƶ Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power, presented the funds.
The Cooperative Family Fund’s mission is to provide each child of a parent who dies while an active co-op employee a trust account that will be available to the child on his or her 18th birthday. CFC helped get the organization certified as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit, and it began accepting donations on Jan. 6. NRECA’s Homestead Advisers will manage the trust accounts.
“Electric co-ops care deeply about their communities and their employees are family,” said NRECA CEO Jim Matheson. “This fund will help staff families during their darkest days and let them know their co-op cares.”
"The Community Foundation of ˿϶Ƶ's Electric Cooperatives is so pleased to support the Cooperative Family Fund. It exemplifies what cooperatives are about—coming together and taking care of each other in the greatest time of need," said Pat O'Loughlin, President and CEO, ˿϶Ƶ's Electric Cooperatives.