Powder River Energy Foundation and Basin Electric have joined forces to make a $5,000 donation to Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom (WAIC), supporting educators to implement the Wyoming Stewardship Project (WSP) in their classrooms and develop students’ understanding of Wyoming’s vast natural resources.
Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom is a statewide organization that brings curricula covering agriculture, minerals, energy, outdoor recreation, and tourism to youth. WAIC also provides training and professional development to educators across the state. They are known for the state bookmark contest, while serving 139 classrooms and more than 2,000 students.
“This project is making a difference for our students right now and will have a lasting impact into the future for our state,” said Executive Director, Andrew Joannides. “The Wyoming Stewardship Project authentically teaches Wyoming’s main economic drivers and is genuinely making a difference for Wyoming students.” Teacher workshops are held in June and July throughout the state.
The Foundation approved a $2,500 grant, then Basin Electric doubled their match to $2,500 making the total donation at $5,000. “The PRECorp Foundation, and matching partners like Basin Electric, strive to support education initiatives in northeast Wyoming. WAIC’s successful programs continue to implement one of the Foundation’s general tenets which is to support the youth in northeast Wyoming,” said PRECorp Foundation Board President John Flocchini.
The Foundation is a self-sustaining giving organization that gets its funding from a variety of sources. Some funds are made possible in part by the PRECorp Operation RoundUp® Program, fundraisers, and large matching grants. When PRECorp consumer-members sign up for the Operation RoundUp®, PRECorp rounds up their electric bill to the next dollar, contributing those extra cents to the fund.
“We address the basic needs of our communities by feeding the hungry, supporting our Veterans, and giving a helping hand to families in crisis, the elderly, arts, and education. The Foundation’s goal is simple - to provide financial and philanthropic support to organizations and causes that have a direct impact in our local communities. The impact of these donations will be felt by the hard-working consumer-members of PRECorp throughout northeast Wyoming,” said PRECorp Foundation Executive Director Jeff Bumgarner.
The Foundation focuses its giving to charitable organizations in Campbell, Crook, Johnson, Sheridan, and Weston counties.
About Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom: WAIC strives to develop students’ understanding of Wyoming’s vast resources where they become informed citizens, capable of service as stewards of Wyoming’s future. Their main focus is supporting educators who utilize the newly developed Wyoming Stewardship Project in their classrooms.
About Basin Electric: Basin Electric is a consumer-owned, regional cooperative headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota. It generates and transmits electricity to 131 rural electric system members in nine states. These member systems distribute electricity to about 3 million consumers. Basin Electric gives back to the communities it serves through its member cooperatives, of which PRECorp is a member.
PHOTO CAPTION:
Pictured from left: Powder River Energy Foundation staff Tim Velder and Linda Tokarczyk; Foundation Directors Mary Yemington, Mary Geier and Zeta Anderson; Ag In The Classroom representative Rindy West; Foundation Directors Joanie Kiser and Laci Schiffer; PRECorp Board Director Clay Branscom and PRECorp VP of Member Service Joe Roth.