News Release WRIGHT-HENNEPIN MEMBERS DONATE MORE THAN $51,000 TO HELP LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

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1 Contact: Kristina Moritz Phone: (763) Fax: (763) WRIGHT-HENNEPIN MEMBERS DONATE MORE THAN $51,000 TO HELP LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS Rockford, Minn. (March 18, 2013) Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association s (WH) Operation Round Up (ORU) participants donated grants totaling $51,856 in January ORU participants allow their electric bills to be rounded up to the nearest dollar. The rounded amount is then used for donations to fund community programs. ORU s trust board of directors manages the generated money, which is held in a trust fund. Through a selection process and review of guidelines, the board evaluates funding requests on a bimonthly basis. The ORU trust board approved the following donations on behalf of WH members for January 2013: $200, Annandale All Night Grad party, funds to provide a safe all night graduation party $200, St. Michael Albertville All Night Grad party, funds to provide a safe all night graduation party $2,500, Autism Allies/Autism Task Force, funds to assist a resource fair $1,000, Boy Scout Troop #547, Albertville, funds to support canoe trailer for troop $2,500, Family Hope Services TreeHouse, funds to provide rides for youth to attend programs, mentoring and counseling programs $5,656, ALS of MN, funds to purchase equipment used for the ALS Association $6,000, American Cancer Society, funds to support six Relay for Life events News Release

2 $500, Confidence Learning Center, funds for camper scholarships $1,800, Maple Lake Library, funds to purchase books $5,000, Rivers of Hope, funds to support 24-hour crisis phone line $1,500, SOAR Regional Arts, funds to help with prop, materials and costumes needed for show $25,000, Local Food Shelves, funds to replenish food supplies during MN Food Share Month in March Since the ORU program began in 1994, WH members have donated more than $2.8 million to programs in need. Each participant contributes an average of $6 per year. For those interested in applying for funds, the next application deadline is April 1, To receive an application, visit WH s website at send an to info@whe.org, or call Lisa Zipp and leave a message at (763) Operation Round Up recently awarded a grant to Autism Allies in the amount of $2,500 to fund a resource fair. Boar Member Maggie Corr (left) and Chair Lisa Burke (right) received the grant from ORU Chair John Meister (middle).

3 Operation Round Up recently awarded a grant to Boy Scout Troop #547 in the amount of $1,000 to fund a canoe trailer for the troop. Jer Gerads (left) received the grant from ORU Chair John Meister (right). Operation Round Up recently awarded Family Hope Services TreeHouse a grant in the amount of $2,500 to provide rides for youth to attend mentoring and counseling programs. Kate Frerich (right) received the grant from ORU Chair John Meister (left).

4 Operation Round Up recently awarded ALS of MN a grant in the amount of $5,656 to purchase equipment used for the ALS Association. Kate Frerich (right) received the grant from ORU Chair John Meister (left). Operation Round Up recently awarded the American Cancer Society a grant in the amount of $6,000 to fund six Relay for Life events. Community Relations staff Chanda Brandt (left) and Amanda Hegeman (right) received the grant from ORU Chair John Meister (middle).

5 Operation Round Up recently awarded Confidence Learning Center a grant in the amount of $500 to fund camper scholarships. Executive Director Jeff Olson (right) received the grant from ORU Chair John Meister (left) Operation Round Up recently awarded the Maple Lake Library a grant in the amount of $1,800 to fund book purchases. (left to right) ORU Chair John Meister presented the grant to Board Vice President Margaret Jenniges, Board Member Terry Mooney and Board Member Theresa Andrus.

6 Operation Round Up recently awarded Rivers of Hope a grant in the amount of $5,000 to fund and support a 24-hour crisis phone line. Director Kathleen Poate (right) received the grant from ORU Chair John Meister (left). Operation Round Up recently awarded SOAR Regional Arts a grant in the amount of $1,500 to fund materials needed for a show. President Terrell Beaudry (right) received the grant from ORU Chair John Meister (left).

7 Operation Round Up recently awarded local food shelves grants totaling $25,000 Front (left to right) : Bev Irvin, Jean Skomoroh, John Meister, ORU Chair of the Trust, Robin LaFond, Shirley Legatt, Bonnie Blair. Back (left to right): Russ Irvin, Ed Skomoroh, Sandy McClurg, Liz Johnson, Ann Maaas, Tracy Pierce, Margaret Maas, Roger Brenny, Jeanie Pilarski. WH is a member-owned non-profit electric utility that provides electric power to Wright County and the western part of Hennepin County. The cooperative has been a corporate citizen in this area since 1937 and currently serves more than 46,000 electric accounts. The utility started its security division in 1989 and now provides local home security solutions as well as monitors alarm systems for more than 50,000 customers in 32 states and three Canadian provinces. -end-