White River Valley Electric donates $75K to teachers

Branson-based White River Valley Electric Cooperative Inc. is donating $75,000 to teachers in its five-county service area.

The company selected teachers at 24 schools in Christian, Douglas, Ozark, Stone and Taney counties, according to a news release. The money is from the organization’s annual educational grant program called Power Up, which is funded through Operation Round Up.

“It is the generosity of White River Valley Electric Cooperative members, who round up their monthly bills through Operation Round Up, that provide these enhanced opportunities at area schools,” said Cassie Cunningham, the electric cooperative's vice president and chief growth officer, in the release. “We are excited to see how these awarded projects spark the minds of local students.”

The grant recipients work at these public and private schools: Ava, Blue Eye, Bradleyville, Branson, Chadwick, Forsyth, Gainesville, Galena, Hollister, Kirbyville, Legacy Christian Academy, Lutie, Mark Twain, Nixa, Ozark, Plainview, Reeds Spring, School of the Ozarks, Skyline, Sparta, Spokane, Taneyville, Thornfield and Tri-Lakes Cooperative School.

Through the Power Up program this year, 129 of 194 applications were approved, according to the release. Teachers submit a plan with an itemized list of supplies and a letter of project approval from their district's administrative office.

Operation Round Up has brought in more than $5.3 million for community projects since 1992.