Operation Round Up is a program designed to provide financial assistance to worthwhile individuals and organizations. The CECF board of directors meets quarterly to review applications from individuals and organizations in the area. The maximum annual grant that can be approved is $10,000 for organizations and $2,500 for individuals.
First-quarter applications are due Feb.9, 2021. The board of directors for the Cotton Electric Charitable Foundation will meet again Feb. 23, 2021 to review applications for the quarter.
Cotton Electric Charitable Foundation board members include Danny Marlett, President; Carter Waid, Vice President; Cindy Zelbst, Secretary/Treasurer; Jennifer Meason, CEO of Cotton Electric; and Ken Layn, president of the Cotton Electric Board of Trustees.
Applications to the Operation Round Up program are available at the links below or by calling Shane Bowers at 580-875-4216. Individual applications MUST include a letter of referral from a reputable service agency or non-profit organization.
NEW REQUIREMENT: All applications for grants benefiting schools require the signature of the school superintendent. This includes applications submitted by booster clubs, parent-teacher organizations and other school-related groups, teachers and principals. This requirement was established to ensure coordinated communication on projects that fit a school district’s priorities.
Individual Application Organization Application Grant Guidelines
Grants Awarded
Operation Round Up exists because of the generosity of Cotton Electric's members. Every month, more than 12,300 members of the cooperative kick in a little extra change, rounding up their monthly power bill to the nearest dollar. Contributions ranging from one cent to 99 cents are pooled and provide the funds for the Cotton Electric Charitable Foundation.
A total of $26,061 in CECF grants were issued in the fourth quarter of 2020. A list of those grants is below.
August 2020
| City of Geronimo | Playground equipment |
$9,966.00 |
| Comanche Area Toys 4 Tots | Gifts, clothing | $2,500.00 |
| Empire Public Schools | Handicap modifications | $2,500.00 |
| Gabriel's House | Food care packages | $500.00 |
| Indiahoma Fire Department | Hydraulic rescue tool | $5,000.00 |
| Rush Springs UMC Food Bank | Food, freezer | $1,800.00 |
| Waurika EMS District Assoc. | Toughbook laptop computer | $3,795.00 |
| Total | $26,061.00 |