Great Lakes Energy (GLE) Cooperative employees, along with the help of CoBank, a cooperative lender, recently contributed $21,119 to local United Way agencies throughout the GLE service area.
GLE employees participate annually in a United Way campaign by pledging money from their paychecks throughout the year. This year, employee contributions received a $5,000 boost from one of GLE’s lenders, CoBank. Through its Sharing Success Program, CoBank agreed to match up to $5,000 in contributions to one nonprofit organization in GLE’s service area.
As co-ops, GLE and CoBank both share a concern for local communities, which is one of the seven cooperative principles.
Since 1999, GLE employees have contributed over $130,000 to local United Way agencies and charities.
The following United Way agencies and charities were selected by GLE employees to receive contributions in 2015: Char-Em United Way, Crystal Valley Care Fund, United Way of the Lakeshore, Love INC. of Oceana, United Way of Mason County, Mecosta-Osceola United Way, United Way of Northwest Michigan, Otsego County United Way, and The Salvation Army.
Great Lakes Energy serves over 125,000 members in 26 western Michigan counties. CoBank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states.
Photo: Char-Em Executive Director Lorraine Manary (L) accepts a check for United Way from Shari Culver, Great Lakes Energy.