Four charitable organizations were each awarded a $5,000 “Sharing Success” grant by Cuivre River Electric Cooperative (CREC) and CoBank. The recipients of the 2022 grants are Anne’s Anchor, New Melle Sports & Recreation, The Sparrow’s Nest, and Warren County Literacy.
“We are proud to support the mission of these organizations that are so vital in the communities we serve,” says CREC Board of Directors President Diane Saale. ‘Caring for community' is one of the cooperative’s seven principles, and we are happy to partner with CoBank in this program.”
“Sharing Success” is a matching grant program created by CoBank in 2012. The cooperative bank partners with its customers, like CREC, to support the causes and organizations they care about. CoBank customers can apply for matching grants each year. This year, CREC awarded $2,500 to each recipient, and CoBank matched the funds. A total of $5,000 went to each of these organizations:
Anne's Anchor is an inclusive, not-for-profit organization funded by local individuals, groups, and churches. Staff is professionally trained, compassionate individuals who are committed to serving women and their families. They use a curriculum that is based on a balanced approach to life that focuses on seven areas identified as necessary for eventual self-sufficiency and success, and support for the mother and child not only before the birth but most especially after the baby is born.
New Melle Sports & Recreation, a volunteer-operated, 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization has been the center of community activities and youth programming since 1953. Its mission is to promote the civic spirit and general welfare of the community and to provide opportunities for youth to participate in athletic activities and competitions while developing good sportsmanship, leadership skills, and self-esteem.
In fall 2022, The Sparrow’s Nest will become a holistic childcare cooperative, offering high-quality childcare to young families in need through a unique, groundbreaking model. Young moms (or dads) will serve as teaching assistants one day each week in exchange for four days of childcare. While serving, parents will receive case management, parenting education, mentoring, counseling, and access to resources. The organization offers hope to vulnerable young families, extending them the support and grace they need to be successful.
The mission of Warren County Literacy is to help improve early literacy in Warren County, Missouri, by providing access to books. The organization fulfills its mission through its Books from Birth program, annual Bookcase Project, Little Free Libraries, and community events. From its beginning in 2011, the organization has presented nearly 650 hand-crafted bookcases and 20,000 books through the Bookcase Project to provide underserved early readers easy access to books at home.
Since the inception of the “Sharing Success” program in 2012 and counting this year’s grants, CREC with CoBank’s matching funds has awarded a total of $160,000 to organizations including Honor Flight of Greater St. Louis, The Key Youth Center, Operation Food Search, Compass Health Network, Volunteers in Medicine St. Charles, Hope Center of Pike County, TREE House of Greater St. Louis, St. Charles Community College Foundation, Agape Food Pantry, and Our Lady’s Inn. CREC’s board of directors jointly makes the decision to which organizations the “Sharing Success” grants will be awarded.
About Cuivre River Electric Cooperative
Founded in 1941, Cuivre River Electric Cooperative is the largest of Missouri's 40 consumer-owned electric distribution cooperatives, providing electricity to more than 68,000 homes and businesses in Lincoln, Montgomery, Pike, St. Charles, and Warren counties in Missouri. For information visit cuivre.com or call (800) 392-3709.
About CoBank
CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing, and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water, and communications providers in all 50 states. The bank also provides wholesale loans and other financial services to affiliated Farm Credit associations serving more than 76,000 farmers, ranchers, and other rural borrowers in 23 states around the country. CoBank is a member of the Farm Credit System, a nationwide network of banks and retail lending associations chartered to support the borrowing needs of U.S. agriculture, rural infrastructure, and rural communities. Headquartered outside Denver, Colorado, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S. and also maintains an international representative office in Singapore.