Decatur Utilities has once again partnered with the Tennessee Valley Authority to award a total of $35,000 from TVA’s Community Care Fund program to local non-profits with matching funds provided by 3M. Recipients were the Decatur City Schools Foundation which received $15,000 from TVA and $15,000 from 3M; the Princess Theatre for the Performing Arts which received $5,000 from TVA and $5,000 from 3M and United Way of Morgan County, which received $10,000 from TVA and $10,000 from 3M. An additional $10,000 was awarded to the Decatur-Morgan Hospital Foundation, $5,000 coming from TVA and $5,000 in matching funds from DU's employee and vendor Dragon Boat fundraising effort. No DU ratepayer funds were used in the awards.
L-R: Stevi Price, Executive Director, Decatur City Schools Foundation (DCSF); Ray Hardin, General Manager, Decatur Utilities; Keeuntae Stone, Community Relations Specialist, TVA; Michelle Howell, Site Director, 3M's Decatur Facility; Victoria Tumbleson, DCSF Board Member
Since the program began in April 2020, the Community Care Fund has helped more than 630 local charitable organizations across the Tennessee Valley region provide much-needed assistance to those most impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. It is part of a broader effort by TVA and local power companies to support communities with resources, programs and assistance and reinforce the strength of public power in the Tennessee Valley.
“I view the Community Care Fund as the Valley Public Power Model in action," said Jeannette Mills, TVA Executive Vice President and Chief External Relations Officer. “Public Power means we put people over profits, and it underscores our partnerships with local power companies to deliver on our mission of service to those most in need”. Mills also pointed out that local power companies have the best understanding of the immediate needs of the people they serve, so TVA is partnering with them to select local organizations for the matching donations."
Ray Hardin, Decatur Utilities General Manager, expressed his thanks to TVA and 3M for partnering to make these funds available. "While DU itself is restricted by state law from making direct donations out of ratepayer funds, this program is a way DU can help obtain assistance that helps local non-profits achieve their mission," Hardin said. "We certainly appreciate Michelle Howell and 3M for providing matching funds as well as DU's employees and vendors who helped raise more than $13,000 through our Dragon Boat effort this year."
Howell, site director for 3M’s facility in Decatur, said the opportunity – which came before the company earlier this year – to provide matching funds fit perfectly into the company's desire to give back to the local community. "We were happy to be a part of this round and look forward to seeing these non-profits use the money to continue serving our local residents with vital programs and services."
L-R: Ray Hardin, General Manager, Decatur Utilities; Keeuntae Stone, Community Relations Specialist, TVA; Mindy Brubaker Managing Director, Princess Theatre for the Performing Arts; Michelle Howell, Site Director, 3M's Decatur Facility
L-R: Ray Hardin, General Manager, Decatur Utilities; Keeuntae Stone, Community Relations Specialist, TVA; Kathleen Ross, CEO, United Way of Morgan County; Michelle Howell, Site Director, 3M's Decatur Facility
L-R: Ray Hardin, General Manager, Decatur Utilities; Noel Lovelace, Executive Director, Decatur Morgan Hospital Foundation; Keeuntae Stone, Community Relations Specialist, TVA