Here’s how Operation Round Up (ORU) works:
If your bill is $75.72, we round it up to $76.00 — with the extra 28¢ going directly to the Operation Round Up® Trust Fund. When combined with the spare change from thousands of generous MVEC members, those pennies add up to a big impact in our local communities.
Since 1995, MVEC’s Operation Round Up has distributed more than $2.6 million to support local fire departments, women’s shelters, youth programs, social services, food shelves, and many other worthwhile causes.
Request ORU funding
Money contributed to Operation Round Up (ORU) is administered by a tax-exempt, nonprofit corporation called the Minnesota Valley Electric Trust. The Trust is separate from MVEC and governed by a nine-person, volunteer Board of Directors.
Contributions are generally not made for:
- lobbying, political and religious organizations
- veteran, fraternal, and labor organizations
- fundraising dinners or raffles
- national fund drives
- general operating funds
See the 3rd Quarter recipients of $47,570
| Organization | Purpose of Funds | Amount Distributed |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington Chamber of Commerce | Arli-Dazzle Event | $500 |
| Arlington Fire Department | Replace discontinued and obsolete light tower system on trucks | $2,500 |
| Art, Heart and Hoofbeats | Port-o-potty rental and cleaning | $1,964 |
| Arts and Heritage Center of Montgomery | 507 Food Share program | $500 |
| Belle Plaine Backpack Program | Backpack program | $500 |
| Belle Plaine Food Shelf | Food | $500 |
| Bountiful Basket Food Shelf | Food | $500 |
| Brainpower in a Backpack | Backpack program | $500 |
| Central Elementary School | Backpack program | $500 |
| Choose Not to Use, Scott County | Vape detectors at NPHS and CLC | $1,500 |
| City of Kilkenny | Materials for Trick or Trunk event | $750 |
| Czech Heritage Club | Ballroom rental and dancers for Czech Wencel Fest | $1,050 |
| Every Meal | Food | $500 |
| Heimatfest | Fireworks | $1,000 |
| Hope United Grief Group | Two-night retreat for grief journey | $3,000 |
| Le Sueur Co. Santa Anonymous – Cleveland | Christmas gifts | $500 |
| Le Sueur Co. Santa Anonymous – Elysian | Christmas gifts | $500 |
| Le Sueur Co. Santa Anonymous – Le Center | Christmas gifts | $500 |
| Le Sueur Co. Santa Anonymous – Le Sueur | Christmas gifts | $500 |
| Le Sueur Co. Santa Anonymous – Montgomery | Christmas gifts | $500 |
| Le Sueur Co. Santa Anonymous – New Prague | Christmas gifts | $500 |
| Le Sueur Co. Santa Anonymous – Waterville | Christmas gifts | $500 |
| Majestic Hills Ranch Foundation | Heroes on Horseback program | $3,500 |
| Peace Center | Food | $500 |
| ProAct, Inc. | Purchase TV and whiteboard | $556 |
| Raising Hope for a Cure | Hops for Hope Fundraiser | $500 |
| Rotary Club of Le Sueur | Backpack program | $500 |
| Saint John the Baptist Catholic School | Field trip transportation | $900 |
| Scott Co. SWCD | Outdoor Education Day stations | $1,500 |
| Shakopee Chamber of Commerce | CNA class for students | $4,800 |
| Sibley County Foodshare | Food | $500 |
| Teuby 2B Continued | Teen Mental Health First Aid class at Belle Plaine High School | $4,000 |
| The Drawer | Dignity in Bulk Program clothes | $5,000 |
| This is Me | Milestone photography and training | $2,000 |
| Treasures in Town | Project Connect | $500 |
| TCU Area FFA | Trap Shooting Fundraiser | $750 |
| Tri-Valley Opportunity Council | Path to Success program | $600 |
| WEE Farm | Picnic table | $1,200 |
| West Village Homeschool Co-op | Comm. Ed courses for parents | $1,000 |
| Total distributions this quarter: $47,570.00 |
Deadlines to apply are 4 p.m. on the last day of January, April, July, and October.
Trustee Board Members
- Connie Meeker of Green Isle
- Diana Brenke of Belle Plaine
- Dwayne Glenn of Lakeville
- Jamie Paget of Savage
- Jeanne Zwart of Elysian
- Jill Sims of Savage
- John Miller of Henderson
- Mary Krentz of Henderson
- Mike Stapf of Prior Lake
Interested in serving on the ORU Board?
Operation Round Up (ORU) welcomes members who are interested in serving as volunteer trustees. Trustees meet quarterly in February, May, August, and November to review grant requests and award funding to local organizations and community projects. Trustees are responsible for reviewing assigned grant applications before each meeting. Serving on the ORU Board is a great opportunity to give back and help support the communities we serve.
MVEC Trust Board (ORU) Director Profile
Examples of ORU grant recipients
