LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
PARIS—EnerStar Electric Cooperative announced Sept. 30, they were awarded a 2024 CoBank Sharing Success matching grant totaling $20,000. According to an EnerStar pressrelease, “The grant is intended to help cooperatives support causes and organizations that are important to the communities they serve. This year, the cooperative directed the funds toward organizations that serve at-risk and in-need youth throughout the co-op’s service territory.”
Four non profit organizations were chosen to be recipients of the grant, two of which provide services in Edgar County. People Encouraging Remarkable Kids (PERK) and Hopes and Dreams, Inc. each received $7,000 in funding for their efforts and contributions in Paris and other Edgar County areas.
With more than 90 students enrolled in their program, funding will help PERK provide several resources to participants.
“This is our first time receiving the CoBank Sharing Success grant. I was very happy to have the program nominated. A big part of what we try to do is to be able to assist our PERK students, and, if possible, help them with tangible items.” said program coordinator Jenifer Bonawitt. “This will also go towards normal expenses for running the program, but something new. We have a lot of our teachers and volunteers, including myself, and sometimes we’ll find that students need things, and we’d like to be able to have funding for that.”
EnerStar holds several key principles close to their heart and they are excited to be sharing those principles with local non-profit organizations, along with the grants.
“EnerStar, as a not-for-profit electric cooperative, is guided by seven cooperative principles, which include ‘Cooperation among Cooperatives’ and ‘Concern for Community,’” said EnerStar Manager of Marketing and Communications Angela Griffin. “We are very proud to be a part of this program and to witness fellow non-profits thriving with the financial assistance the grant offers.”
In a statement released on their Facebook page, Hopes and Dreams expressed their thanks to EnerStar and their efforts for the grant.
“This is how we keep our organization afloat. “Thank you” is not a powerful enough statement to show our gratitude to Enerstar Electric Cooperative & CoBank for selecting our organization as this year’s recipient,” said Hopes and Dreams board member Staci Garzolini-Skelton. “Donations, big or small, lessen the load and improve the quality of life for kids who deserve so much more than the hand they have been dealt. We appreciate our community.”
Bonawitt and PERK also expressed their sincere gratitude to EnerStar and the opportunities in reach thanks to the grant funding.
“We’re very grateful. When we were nominated, I thought that was very, very kind,” said Bonawitt. “We are already becoming a pretty large organization, and it takes a lot of leg work and finances to continue to grow.”
Since 2012, $185,000 in grant funding has been awarded through CoBank Sharing Success to local schools, volunteer fire departments, food pantries and various other nonprofit organizations.