“Flint Energies’ mission is not just to provide electricity, but to improve the quality of life for our Consumer-members and the communities we serve. One way that we can do that is to support innovative programs that will empower learning, support workforce development and build partnerships between education and industry,” says Marian McLemore, Flint’s Vice President of Cooperative Communications.

“We appreciate the Museum of Aviation and Columbus Technical College for the work they do to educate the next generation. The Flint Energies Foundation wanted to express our deep appreciation to these two organizations through the grants given to them,” says Joanne Hamlin, Flint Foundation Chair.

The Museum of Aviation GEAR Lab and Columbus Technical College each received a $125,000 grant to support their STEM programs.

The Flint Energies Foundation provides grants to local non-profits such as this one managing funds donated by Flint Energies Consumer-members through Operation Round Up®. The electric cooperative’s Members contribute $175,000 annually to the Flint Energies Foundation, which supports worthy causes in the 17 counties it serves. Operation Round Up is a way for participating Members to support multiple charitable organizations by simply allowing Flint Energies to round up their bills to the nearest dollar. Donations to Operation Round Up, which average only about $6 per year per member, are tax deductible. About 30% of Flint’s Membership participates in Operation Round Up, but that percentage continues to decline. If you are a Flint Energies Consumer-member and wish to contribute, you can sign up at www.flintenergies.com/ORU or by calling 1.800.342.3616.

Also, any unclaimed capital credits that are deemed abandoned by state law are given to the Flint Energies Foundation to distribute to charitable organizations as well as utilize for education and economic development efforts within the Co-op’s territory. The Flint Energies Foundation has contributed through its large funding initiatives to local law enforcement, fire departments and now schools with these abandoned capital credit funds.

Since 2001, the Flint Energies Foundation has awarded more than $11 million in grants to local organizations.

The Flint Energies Foundation, a state-chartered, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, disburses all contributions to approved projects; Member contributions are not used for administration costs. Foundation Board members include Chair Joanne Hamlin, Lizella; Vice Chair Eloise Doty, Butler; Secretary Connie McCutchen, Midland; Treasurer John Luppino, Warner Robins; Gina Fink, Fort Valley; Charles Harrison, Grovania; Pat Bartness, Warner Robins; Traci Kemp, Warner Robins; Betty Chase, Oglethorpe; Roger Sinyard, Mauk; and Ian Russell, Fort Valley.