Operation Round Up awards $18,845 to community programs
Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative’s Operation Round Up awarded $18,845 to 16 local nonprofits in October to support local schools and parks, children and families, the arts, literacy and education.
“We’re proud to support nonprofits and their important work to improve our local quality of life,” said Polk-Burnett General Manager Steve Stroshane. “We thank our co-op members for their participation in Operation Round Up; your generosity makes a difference to so many people and programs in our community.”
Fall 2026 Operation Round Up grant recipients include:
1. Osceola Wheels & Wings, $1,000, storage building
2. Gift of Warm Clothing, $1,500, winter coats, snow pants, boots, hats and gloves for Luck community
3. Amery Middle School Technology Education, $687, hand routers for woodworking
4. River Valley Hockey Association, $1,000, equipment for athletes to borrow
5. St. Croix Valley Orchestra, $1,000, 2026-27 music season for local audiences
6. United Way St. Croix and Red Cedar Valley, $1,500, Polk County diaper bank
7. Gaylord Nelson Educational Center, Clear Lake Elementary, $1,500, One School, One Book reading program
8. Grantsburg Youth Fastpitch, $1,000, batting cage upgrade
9. Friends of St. Croix Falls Library, $1,350, Tributary writing classes and writing circles
10. Webster Area Chamber of Commerce, $1,000, materials to build second pavilion at Sturgeon Park
11. St. Croix Falls School District, $1,308, iPads for digital art classes for middle and high schoolers
12. STAR Education Foundation, $2,000, food backpack program for St. Croix Falls students
13. West Denmark Woodland School, $1,000, stainless steel sink
14. Village of Webster, $1,000, benches and planters for Gandy Dancer Railroad Park
15. St. Croix Valley Sexual Assault Response Team, $1,000, nurse training
16. ICCPA Foundation, $1,000, kids’ newspaper to support literacy
Operation Round Up grants are funded by members of Polk-Burnett Electric Cooperative who round up their electric bills. Operation Round Up grant recipients are selected quarterly by a board of co-op members.
Nonprofit organizations interested in applying for a grant or co-op members who’d like to round up their bill in support of Operation Round Up may contact Polk-Burnett at 800-421-0283 or our Operation Round Up webpage. The next application deadline is December 1, 2026.
Polk-Burnett’s Operation Round Up awarded a $1,308 grant to St. Croix Falls School District to purchase iPads for digital art classes. The grant will help expand creative learning opportunities for St. Croix Falls students.
Craig Broeren, St. Croix Falls School District Superintendent, center, accepted a $2,000 grant check from Operation Round Up board directors. The donation will support the STAR Education Foundation’s food backpack program.
Operation Round Up supports children’s literacy with a $1,000 grant to the ICCPA Foundation. Funds will be used to publish and distribute newspapers for kids at area schools.
