The Sawnee Electric Membership Foundation recently awarded $24,652.86 to local charities and teachers/classroom grants through its Operation Round Up program. The local charitable organizations that received funding were:

• American Auxiliary, Post 307

• The ALS Association, Georgia Chapter

• The Children’s Haven Inc.

• Rachel’s Gift, Inc.

• Sawnee Woman’s Club

The Bright Ideas classroom grants were awarded to teachers in Forsyth and North Fulton schools. Those grants went to:

• Kristina Strickland, West Forsyth High School, and

• Danielle Evangelista, Northwood Elementary

Interested applicants are required to submit an application to the Foundation board for consideration. In order to qualify for a grant, the nonprofit charity must be located in Sawnee EMC’s service area and/or provide a service to the community. Teachers can also apply for funds through the Bright Ideas program, which is part of Operation Round Up. A public or private teacher is eligible to apply for funding as long as the school he or she teaches at is within the Sawnee EMC service area.

These programs are made possible by the 20,000-plus members of Sawnee EMC that make the decision each month to round their electric bill up to the next highest dollar. This “extra change” goes directly into the Sawnee Foundation and is gifted back out into the communities Sawnee EMC serves.

For more information about the Operation Round Up program, call Cindy Badgett, director of external affairs at 678-455-1399 or email cindy.badgett@sawnee.com.