Sioux Valley Energy and its members are springing into 2025 by making an impact in their local communities. During the most recent quarterly meeting of the Sioux Valley Energy Customers’ Trust Board of Directors, $25,800 in grants were awarded by the Cooperative’s Operation Round Up® program. An additional $5,000 was reserved for scholarships.
Recipients included:
Brandon, South Dakota National Inventors Hall of Fame, Inc. – $1,375 in funding for full-camp registration for five local low-income children at Camp Invention at Brandon and Brookings
Brookings, South Dakota The Salvation Army of Brookings County – $1,000 in funding for assistance including rent, utilities, medical bills, gas/bus tokens for medical appointments, and groceries
Colman, South Dakota Colman Fire and Rescue Department – $750 in funding toward cordless tool batteries for equipment that assists in car accidents and fires
Colton, South Dakota Colton Friends of Baseball – $750 in funding for field improvements, focusing on turf replacement, at the Colton baseball field
Crooks, South Dakota Crooks Community Daycare Center – $1,000 toward the purchase of four iPads and a refrigerator for the new center
Dell Rapids, South Dakota Dell Rapids Baseball Association – $750 in funding for new backstop, dugouts (benches), backstop concrete surround on the volunteer field
Garretson, South Dakota Blue Dragon Academy – $750 in funding toward Mr. Ty, the childcare whisper, training
Harrisburg, South Dakota Educators Rising SD – $1,000 in funding to create kits, procure materials and deliver – professional development to schools
Hartford, South Dakota Hartford Area Sports and Rec – $750 in funding to purchase two portable pitching mounds, bat racks, and materials to build helmet/ball glove cubbies
West Central Education Foundation – $750 in funding to grant teacher requests
West Central Music Association – $750 in funding for new headset microphones
Hills, Minnesota HBC Letter Club – $750 in funding to provide academic letters, sports letters, pins, and an interactive television to display Hall of Fame
Luverne, Minnesota Rock County Community Library – $750 in funding to purchase a story trail
Luverne Elementary Grade 4 Science – $984.90 in funding to purchase a 3D printer to provide hands-on opportunities for scientific concepts
Madison, South Dakota Lake County Food Pantry, Inc. – $1,000 in funding for two weeks’ worth of food costs to fill backpacks for 160 preschool-5th grade students in Lake County schools
The Friends of the Madison Public Library – $500 in funding to update the youth area and offer a safe space for teens
The Gathering Meal – $1,000 in funding to provide a free meal for those in need
Mitchell, South Dakota Abbott House – $1,000 in funding for transportation costs for children
Pipestone, Minnesota ACE of SW MN – $250 in funding toward purchase of food and paper products for volunteer appreciation event and to purchase weights used in exercise classes
ELA – Pipestone – $1,000 in funding for field trip opportunities for children who do not normally participate due to lack of funds/vehicles
Jasper Jolly Juniors 4-H Club – $750 to build two scoreboards at the Jasper, Minnesota, softball fields
Pipestone Area Youth Fastpitch – $750 funding for new uniforms
Calumet Players – $750 in funding for rehearsal space, seat rental, costumes, props, sets, music, and advertising
Sioux Falls, South Dakota Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire – $500 in funding for supplies and training
Center of Hope – $750 in funding to provide new locks and bicycle parts
Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety – $1,000 in funding for “Worthy Me” training
Sioux Falls Public Schools Education Foundation – $1,000 in funding for teacher grants
Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium – $500 in funding to allow additional children and adults to experience the venue
The Foster Network – $1,250 in funding to purchase new shoes for back-to-school event in August
Tea, South Dakota South Dakota Players Inc. – $750 in funding to support tournament registration and uniforms
Volga, South Dakota Volga Christian School – $950 in funding for CPR/First Aid/AED training and a new AED
Nearly $2.3 million has been donated to area non-profits, schools, and communities since the year 2000 when Sioux Valley Energy started its Operation Round Up® (ORU) program. The program is simple – participating members “round up” their electric bill to the next high dollar and those “rounded up” funds are placed into a trust. Additionally, many Sioux Valley Energy employees donate from their paycheck each month. Each quarter the Operation Round Up Board of Trustees meets to review applications and consider grant requests.
A list of recent grant recipients, as well as information on how local organizations can apply for funding, can be found at https://www.siouxvalleyenergy.com/operation-round-up
The next deadline to apply for funding is May 20 with grants being awarded in June.
Sioux Valley Energy, a Touchstone Energy® Cooperative, is a member-owned electric utility, providing reliable electric service at cost-based rates to nearly 30,000 homes, farms, businesses, and industries in a seven-county area of east-central South Dakota and western Minnesota.
