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No matter the industry, all cooperative
businesses adhere to seven
guiding principles. The last one, though certainly not
least, principle #7 is "Concern for Community." HWE's mission
is to develop, implement, and communicate our concern for
community by sponsoring and supporting charitable organizations,
as well as programs and activities that improve the communities
where our members and employees live and work.
We uphold this principle
through a variety of ways:
- Donations - Our donations include both monetary
and item contributions. Such contributions have supported
various nonprofit societies, youth sports, theater, arts
and charitable organizations. In fact, our Annual Meeting
food donation drive each fall provides hundreds of nonperishable
food items for local homeless and needy citizens.
- Employees - Our employees extend a wonderful human
touch to many worthy groups. Employees have donated their
work time to serve on committees, speak at classes, hang
up community Christmas lights and to set poles for nonprofit
group projects, to name a few. Our employees also get active
by raising money as a team for various charities, and HWE
has even matched their fundraising efforts in some cases.
- Community Groups - We are active in several community
organizations in an effort to improve the lifestyles of
our members. We also anticipate that our support will have
a positive economic impact on HWE through increased sales.
- Environment - While we serve on several environmentally-focused
community groups, we also assist the area each year with
an extensive Christmas tree chipping project to help recycle
and use the wood chips for neighboring projects.
- Events - Each year, for example, we conduct our
own Family Fun Day, Annual Meeting, Holiday Light Contest,
member day-trips and other fun, company-sponsored events.
We also participate in the Farm Science Review, fairs and
other local events to not only promote our services, but
assist in supporting the community with its activities.
- Scholarships - We generously donate thousands of
dollars each year to the daughters and sons of our members
to help defray the cost of their college education. We also
team up with the University of Findlay and Owens Community
College in funding specific scholarship causes at each school.
- Youth Tour - HWE sponsors two students, a boy and
a girl, on the Youth Tour to Washington, D.C., each June.
Students can learn about our capital, the government and
rural electric cooperatives while seeing the historic and
cultural sights of the Washington, D.C. area.
- COOL Tour - HWE is also a part of the
Cooperative Opportunity on Leadership (COOL) Tour every
summer. Two lucky students are selected among all Ohio electric
cooperatives; HWE last had a representative in 2004. On
this trip, we explore marketing, supply, consumer, housing,
restaurant, food, distribution, credit union and electric
co-ops to learn the benefits of cooperatives and how they
operate. This fun and informative tour looks great on your
résumé and college applications, plus you
may even discover a promising career path. Winners are selected
through an application process. If you are between the ages
15-19, you are invited to apply and possibly join this tour
as we travel across the state of Ohio visiting a variety
of cooperatives.
- International Relief - HWE's national organization,
NRECA,
maintains an international foundation to promote true American
character around the globe. Collectively with hundreds of
other U.S. cooperatives, our total contributions to this
foundation have helped to start an electric cooperative
in Haiti, electrify a remote Guatemalan village and create
new jobs.
To
Be Considered
If you believe your organization may benefit from our assistance,
feel free to submit a request in writing. All requests
must be in writing on official organization letterhead.
Groups must be as specific as possible in indicating needs,
projects and deadlines. At the same time, groups must understand
that due to a large volume of requests received and a limited
budget, HWE cannot honor every request for funds. HWE endeavors
to support as many organizations as possible by ensuring that
our budget is distributed fairly. Those organizations considered
which enhance the quality of life of our member-consumers
and the communities in which they live, and in which HWE's
participation is seen as contributing to this end, will be
given preference. Priority will also be given to supporting
organizations or causes in which HWE employees are actively
involved, and/or communities in which they live. Donation
requests may be submitted to the following:
Donation Request
Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative, Inc.
2451 Grant Rd.
P.O. Box 190
North Baltimore, OH 45872-0190
419-257-3024 Fax
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