PHOTO: Vets 4 Vets of Archuleta County received a $5,000 Round Up Grant in December 2021 to sponsor their monthly breakfasts during 2022. Courtesy LPEA.
The La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation Board approved 13 grants totaling $45,500 to local non-profit organizations at its meetings in January, February, and March of 2022. The Animas Alano Club, Durango Education Foundation, Durango Nordic Ski Club, Housing Solutions of the Southwest, In the Weeds, Pine River Shares, Southwest Organization for Sustainability, and Upper San Juan Search and Rescue were awarded Round Up grants totaling $26,500. Dancing Spirit Arts Gallery, Durango Education Foundation, iAM MUSIC, KUTE Public Radio, and Music in the Mountains were awarded Educational Grants totaling $19,000.
“We are grateful to the Round Up Foundation for its support,” said Diana Cruz, Executive Director of the Durango Education Foundation. “We truly appreciate the commitment to the kids in our community and to their education.”
Round Up grants are made possible by the generosity of La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) members who choose to round up their electric bill each month to the next highest dollar. Approximately 16,689 LPEA members donated $29,623 to the Round Up Foundation during the first quarter of 2022. An additional $60,000 in Unclaimed Capital Credits is also allocated annually by the LPEA Board of Directors to support Educational Grants.
Grants are available to registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations in La Plata and Archuleta counties and usually range from $500 to $5,000. Application forms are available at lpea.coop/grant-programs.
LPEA members wishing to round up their bill can sign up on SmartHub or at lpea.coop/round-foundation. The average LPEA member contribution is just $6.00 annually. Members can also elect to donate more each month if they would like to contribute additional money to local non-profits automatically.
Established in 1997, the La Plata Electric Round Up Foundation is a non-profit, community-support fund for organizations and individuals in LPEA’s service territory. A local, eleven-member volunteer board reviews applications and allocates funds. 100% of the tax-deductible donations stay in the communities LPEA serves.
For additional information, contact LPEA at (970) 247-5786 or visit lpea.coop.
Hillary Knox is VP of Communications at La Plata Electric Association, Inc. (LPEA)