The Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op Board of Directors has approved participation in CoBank’s “Sharing Success” program, a $3 million fund that benefits cooperatives and the charitable groups they support throughout America.
The Montmorency County Commission On Aging (MCCOA) was selected to receive a total of $10,000 in PIE&G’s application for matching funds from the 2014 program.
CoBank is a nonprofit cooperative that serves as a “bank for cooperatives” nationwide. Under the Sharing Success program, CoBank matches contributions by its co-op members to the charitable groups of their choice on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to $5,000.
“Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op values our partnership with the communities we serve. Our corporate mission includes improving the quality of life for our members through the use of a cooperative business model,” explains Brian Burns (left in photo), CEO of PIE&G. Regarding the contribution to MCCOA, he adds, “We’ve been able to leverage our relationship with CoBank – a business partner from another part of the country – to increase the power of our local giving to provide services our members desperately need. I’m grateful for that.”
Anna Rogers, MCCOA executive director, says the funding will be used to improve the medical transportation program for senior citizens. Currently, volunteers donate their time and are reimbursed by the client for the cost of gasoline. The grant will allow MCCOA to expand the program to more seniors who are unable to afford the fuel reimbursement.