EVERY PENNY COUNTS: FOUNDATION KICKS OFF “ROUND UP” PROGRAM

The City of Pierre recently approved a new optional fundraising program. “Round Up for Education” is an optional charitable monthly contribution program where city of Pierre residents can sign up to have their monthly utility bill rounded up to the next full dollar amount. The excess change is then donated to the Pierre Educational Foundation. 

For example, if a person’s monthly utility bill is $96.82; their bill would be rounded up to $97.00 and the excess $0.18 would be donated to the Pierre Educational Foundation. The maximum donation amount per month would be $0.99 or the maximum per year would be $11.88.

Funds raised by the “Round Up for Education” program will be put towards projects and programs to further education in the Pierre Public School District.

According to Wade Pogany, the Pierre Educational Foundation Chairperson for the program, “The Foundation is excited that the City of Pierre approved the ‘Round Up for Education’ program. We hope that people will sign up when they realize their donation literally is just pennies a month. Those pennies will add up though, and really make a difference for the Foundation.”

The program begins with the July utility bills and runs through December 2010, or until the “Round Up for Education” program ends. Individuals that sign up may opt out of the program at any time.

To sign up, visit http://ci.pierre.sd.us/roundupform.aspx. Sign up forms will also be mailed out with June and July monthly utility bills.

Individuals who automatically pay their monthly bill through ACH, are not eligible to participate in the “Round Up for Education” program due to software limitations. 

The Pierre Educational Foundation promotes the further educational development of the Pierre Public School District students, staff and graduates through the delivery of quality educational opportunities and resources. The Pierre Educational Foundation is a perpetual fund designated to support innovative / creative projects intended to enrich life-long learning, and dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the tradition of excellence in the Pierre Public Schools.

For more information on the Pierre Educational Foundation, visit www.pierreeducationalfoundation.org or contact Executive Director Kim Brakke at (605) 222-7781 or kim@pierreeducationalfoundation.org.