The Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op Board of Directors recently approved $5,000 in grants as part of its annual participation in Co-Bank’s matching grant program, “Sharing Success”. PIE&G’s board selected three recipients to share in the $10,000 total grant. According to Tom Sobeck, President and CEO of PIE&G, “This partnership has allowed us to bring much needed funds into our local communities to organizations that are best suited to identify members who are desperately in need.” The three organizations receiving funds are listed below.

Cheboygan, Otsego, Presque Isle Educational Service District ($3,650) to assist with the launch of the “Talking is Teaching Campaign” aimed at helping to close the 30-million-word gap and to increase children’s literacy skills in Cheboygan, Otsego, and Presque Isle counties. Campaign materials include blankets imprinted with the slogan “Let’s talk About Books” as well as books that will be purchased and distributed to families who attend community literacy events.

Cheboygan County Habitat for Humanity ($3,650) to promote the Cheboygan County Project Connect event to local Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) households. Funds will also be used to purchase personal hygiene items, personal care items and other costly household products that are not typically provided by local resources.

Optimist Club of Rogers City ($2,700) for the Backpack Program which is designed to meet the needs of hungry children at times when other resources are not available. The backpacks are filled with nutritious foods that are child friendly, non-perishable, easily consumed and vitamin fortified food. The school determines who receives the backpacks.

About CoBank:
CoBank, a non-profit, cooperative bank that PIE&G uses and is a member of, matches contributions by its cooperative members to charitable organizations of their choice on a dollar-for-dollar basis up to $5,000. CoBank requires that the charitable organization is established as a non-profit under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Service code, the donation serves a public purpose and is consistent with the program’s purpose and guidelines. For more information about CoBank, visit the bank’s web site at www.cobank.com.