Stearns Electric Association employees, through the Cooperative’s 17th Annual Employee Charity Event held on November 20th, raised $4,310 for Jack’s Basket. Along with a $1,000 match by Stearns Electric, the total amount awarded to Jack’s Basket was $5,310.
Ahead of the one-day Charity Event, Stearns Electric employees vote on an organization of their choice to receive the proceeds collected for the year. Donations are raised via silent auction, direct contributions and other activities held throughout the day. Stearns Electric’s generous employees also donate prizes for the silent auction. This year’s silent auction included 38 items.
Donations were made to Jack’s Basket, a Minnesota-based non-profit organization with a mission to support families and celebrate babies with Down syndrome. The organization focuses on equipping providers with tools to communicate and discuss Down syndrome accurately without bias, connecting new parents to resources through its basket delivery program, and sharing powerful stories to change the narrative around Down syndrome.
Jacks’ Basket founder and Executive Director, Carissa Carroll, attended the event and spoke to employees about the organization and their important work.
“Stearns Electric is a local, member-owned electric cooperative. We value the communities and people we serve,” Stearns Electric CEO Matt O’Shea said. “The annual Charity Event is one way employees come together to live out our Stearns Electric value of meaningful community involvement.”
Since the inception of Stearns Electric’s Charity Event in 2008, Cooperative employees and the Board of Directors have donated over $65,000 to 17 worthy organizations that make significant impacts in our local communities.
“The Charity Event is an annual testament to our employees’ generosity,” Katie Anderson, Member and Employee Engagement Coordinator, explained. “The organizations that are chosen year-over-year are close to our employees’ hearts and I think that is a direct reflection on the continued success of this employee event to impact local, community organizations doing great work for others.”
Stearns Electric Association is a member-owned electric cooperative. Since 1937, Stearns Electric Association has provided electricity and related products and services to Central Minnesota. Today, Stearns Electric Association serves over 28,000 members in six Central Minnesota counties including Stearns, Todd, Morrison, Kandiyohi, Pope and Douglas. For more information about Stearns Electric Association, please visit stearnselectric.org.
Katie Anderson, Stearns Electric Association and Carissa Carroll, Jack’s Basket.
