Prism Propane Teams With HWE & CoBANK To Make A Big Difference

Tomorrow at 3 p.m., Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative and Prism Propane Services of Ohio, LLC representatives will present a $20,000 check to the The Boy Scouts of America’s Camp Berry, 11716 County Road 40 in Findlay, as part of a Sharing Success Grant program offered through CoBANK, an electric distribution banking group based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Each of the local organizations donated $5,000 and CoBank contributed the remaining $10,000 toward the purchase of a generator that powers clean and sanitary water services at the camp. Black Swamp Area Council of the Boy Scouts Board Member Karl Heminger told Hancock-Wood leadership last summer, that the camp suffered extensive derecho storm damage in 2012 that knocked down hundreds of trees, strew debris and put their water pumping services virtually out of commission.

Hancock-Wood President and CEO George Walton and Vice President of Engineering and Operations Bill Barnhart met with Heminger and Scout Program Director Andrew Tata in June and determined what was needed was a new generator. Walton pledged to help find funding. To kick off the effort, Hancock-Wood held a Strike it Rich employee bowling challenge the following week with a portion of the proceeds benefitting the camp.

Walton then partnered with CoBank’s Vice President Clarence Mahovlich to explore grant opportunities and discovered Sharing Success would fit the bill. Camp Berry leadership is working with area contractors for installation of the generator, which is expected in 2014.

This year marks the 75th Anniversary of Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative, established in April 1938.  The co-op serves portions of Hancock, Wood, Allen, Erie, Hardin, Henry, Putnam, Sandusky, Seneca and Wyandot counties.  Throughout the cooperative’s history, HWEC has supported local causes through charitable contributions, volunteerism and other activities to make a positive impact on quality of life within the communities it serves. Prism Propane was formed in 1998 as a for-pro­fit company and subsidiary of the Hancock-Wood non-profit organization.

CoBANK is a national cooperative bank providing loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states. CoBANK’s Sharing Success program was launched in June 2012 and matches grants from local cooperatives across the nation.

For more information about Hancock-Wood Electric Cooperative, visit www.hwe.coop or call 800-445-4840.