Sawnee Electric Membership Corporation recently donated $139,200 to public schools and universities within its service area.
Sawnee EMC, a not- for- profit electric cooperative, allocates and returns excess revenue to members via patronage capital. However, when the cooperative is unable to locate a former member, and the funds are abandoned for five years, the patronage capital is used for educational purposes within its service territory. The allocation of funds is donated in accordance with Georgia Law.
Six of the seven counties within Sawnee EMC’s coverage area contain public schools that use the cooperative’s services. Schools in Dawson, Lumpkin, Gwinnett, Cherokee, Fulton and Forsyth counties received a donation to fund an educational program of their choice at their respective schools.
Within the past three years, including 2024, the cooperative has also donated a total of $21,000 to the Cumming Campuses of the University of North Georgia and Lanier Technical College and the Gwinnett Technical College in Alpharetta.
“We are fortunate that Georgia law allows these abandoned funds to stay in the communities we serve,” Michael Goodroe, Sawnee EMC President and CEO said in a release. “It is always a great day for our schools and our staff when we are able to support the education of students in our area.”
