Great Lakes Energy donates over $38K to Mason Co. in 2018. 

Sandcastles Children’s Museum was among the recipients of the funds.

Great Lakes Energy donates over $38K to Mason Co. in 2018. 

Great Lakes Energy People Fund donated $30,378 to Mason County non-profit organizations or municipalities in 2018. In total, the People Fund awarded $218,770 throughout the state. 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 grants funds were awarded to 64 charitable and community organizations throughout Great Lakes Energy’s 26-county service area, which stretches from Kalamazoo to the Mackinac Straits. Eleven of those organizations are in Mason County.

“Thanks to the generosity of our members we’ve awarded more than $3.5 million in grants since 1999 to local non-profits groups and organizations,” said President/CEO Bill Scott. “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 online at gtlakes.com or by contacting Great Lakes Energy’s 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 Scott. “Giving back to the community is one of the cooperative principles and we couldn’t do it without our members’ generosity.”

The following Mason County groups received People Fund grants in 2018: 

• Caritas Food Pantry, Custer: $1,000 for holiday meals for families in need.
• Circle Rocking S Children’s Farm, Free Soil: $2,500 for asphalt between barns.
• Citizen’s Sportsmen’s Club, Fountain: $3,835 for new windows, toilets, sinks and electrical.
• City of Scottville: $2,500 for two automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for Scottville Police Department.
• Lakeshore Food Club, Ludington: $2,000 for carts and materials.
• Riverton Township: $6,434 with $2,454 to upgrade the wooden bleachers to aluminum and $3,980 to upgrade electrical system at the township hall.
• Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association, Ludington: $3,000 for the restoration of Big Sable Lighthouse.
• Sandcastles Children’s Museum, Ludington: $870 for a soft play tunnel for toddlers.
• West Shore Pregnancy & Family Support, Ludington: $4,775 with $3,200 for rental of work space and $1,575 for general client services and the Earn While You Learn program.
• Western Michigan Fair Association, Scottville: $750 for a 100 ft patriotic wall for display during the 2018 fair.