Operation RoundUp

Operation RoundUp gives members of Sangre de Cristo Electric Association an easy way to help out their communities.

By agreeing to “round up” their electric bills to the next dollar, members can work together with other members to help organizations in our local area.

For example, a monthly bill of $52.74 would be rounded up to $53.00. The extra 26 cents is placed in an account administered by the Operation RoundUp Association Board of Directors, along with the pennies rounded up by all other participating members.

Members who have signed up to participate will notice their electric bills include a line item showing the amount that has been “rounded up.” All donations are tax deductible, and every January and February a summary of yearly contributions will be included on each participating member’s bill.

Operation RoundUp extends Sangre’s commitment to the people and the communities that make up our cooperative. It’s a way for a few cents to make lots of sense.

Below are some example of Operation RoundUp grant recipients.

BV Racing

BV Racing Team
BV Racing Team

BV Racing is the high school mountain bike team in northern Chaffee County, including Buena Vista High School, Chaffee County High School, Link School and homeschooled students. It is a club sport, not funded by the school district.

Athletes, parents and sponsors fund the program’s costs of registration fees, coaches’ fees, travel and food to four weekend events during the season.

Operation RoundUp funded $750 toward entry fees and the purchase of cycling jerseys for the group.

Buena Vista Heritage

Buena Vista Heritage
Buena Vista Heritage

Buena Vista Heritage is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation organized for charitable, educations and scientific purposes, including, for such purposes, the operation of a public museum.

On August 1, Buena Vista Heritage was awarded a grant for $145,055 from the Colorado State Historic Fund to provide a new roof, restore the gutter and drainage system and restore the wrought iron on the widow’s walk of the 1882-1929 historic Chaffee County Courthouse. The stipulation of the award requires Buena Vista Heritage to raise $49,000 in matching grant funds.

SDCEA’s Operation RoundUp organization awarded $1,500 to help the organization meet that goal.

Excellence in Education

Excellence in Education
Excellence in Education

Excellence in Education supports Custer County School by securing funds to meet unmet needs that are no longer available through traditional school funding sources. The group has been in existence for nine years and has supported programs, curriculum, in-class room items, a volunteer coordinator salary and more. Volunteers in the organization have logged more than 900 hours per school year.

The Operation RoundUp Board voted to fund $1,000 toward a request to purchase 10 digital cameras for the middle school’s technology class and curriculum.


Photos: 2017 BV Racing Mountain Bike Team, Buena Vista Heritage Museum & Model Railroad Display, Excellence in Education volunteers logged a total of more than 900 hours last year helping students in Custer County.