San Miguel Electric Cooperative (SMEC) has announced its 2020 CoBank Sharing charitable contributions. This year’s beneficiaries are the Atascosa Health Clinic, Safer Path Family Violence Shelter and Children Matter to Me. SMEC’s 2020 contribution has increased from last year’s $7,500 to $10,000 this year.
Through the Sharing Success program, which runs from April 1 through Oct. 31 or until the fund is exhausted, CoBank will match donations made by customers, such as SMEC, to charitable organizations. Established in 2012, CoBank and its customers have thus far contributed more than $44 million. This year, the bank increased the annual matching fund to $4 million and raised the maximum match per customer to $10,000.
SMEC has been a participating member of CoBank’s Sharing Success program since 2013 with cooperative contributions totaling $47,500.
“Our partnership with CoBank allows SMEC to maximize our charitable contributions so that local organizations can benefit even more,” said Mike Kezar, SMEC general manager. “All three organizations, Atascosa Health Clinic, Safer Path Family Violence Shelter and Children Matter to Me, are dedicated to making a difference in their local communities and are very deserving of this donation.”
In addition to CoBank’s Sharing Success program, SMEC’s own charitable giving program contributes financially to individual charities in Atascosa and McMullen Counties.
2019 Charitable Giving Recipients
Throughout the year, SMEC donated funds and partnered with local charitable organizations to help them fulfill their mission to the local community.
“Caring for our neighbors – who are often our customers – is important to us,” said Kezar. “We strive to make a difference to those who so generously serve our community.”
In 2019, SMEC gave $1,000 donations to the following organizations:
• Pleasanton Parks
Foundation
• Longhorn Museum
• Jamie’s Ranch for
Special Kids
• Quilted Hearts
• Campbellton VFD
• Christine VFD
• Jourdanton VFD
• Leming VFD
• Pleasanton VFD
• Poteet VFD
SMEC’s donation to the Longhorn Museum Society in Pleasanton, for example, will be used to restore its “beloved train depot, which needs a new threshold in the entrance way.” Quilted Hearts says it plans to use its donation “to make quilts, blankets, tote bags and bibs for children in crisis in Atascosa County.” The Pleasanton Parks Foundation will use its funds “to enhance park amenities and support activities for youth, seniors and all citizens.”
In addition to providing these grants, the Cooperative and its employees provided contributions and gifts over the 2019 holidays to the Atascosa County Child Welfare Board and the Safer Path Family Violence Shelter.
Details on the Cooperative’s Charitable Giving Program, including application information, can be found at www.smeci.net/ charitable-giving/application info.
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