Stearns Electric Employees Donate Nearly $6,500 to Soldier’s 6

Melrose, Minn. – Stearns Electric Association employees, though the Cooperative’s 16^th Annual Employee Charity Event held on November 15, raised $5,426 to Soldier’s 6. Along with a $1,000 match by the Stearns Electric Board of Directors, the total amount awarded to Soldier’s 6 was a record-breaking $6,426.

Ahead of the one-day Charity Event, Stearns Electric employees vote on an organization of their choice to receive the proceeds collected for the year. Donations are raised via a silent auction, direct contributions and other activities held throughout the day. Stearns Electric’s generous employees also donate baskets for the silent auction. This year’s silent auction included 36 items.

Donations were made to Minnesota-based organization, Soldier’s 6, to provide specially trained K9 ‘Battle Buddies’ to honorably discharged veterans, police officers, firefighters, paramedics, 911 dispatchers and correctional officers throughout the state.

Soldier’s 6 founders, Ed and Dana Abrahamson, along with K9 Dez, attended the event and spoke to employees about the organization and their important work. Dez and the Abrahamsons returned on December 8 for the official check presentation.

“As a local, member-owned electric utility, we value the communities and the people we serve. The annual Charity Event is one way that we can bring all our employees together to live out our Stearns Electric value of meaningful community involvement,” Stearns Electric CEO Matt O’Shea explained.

Stearns Electric and its employees crossed a major donation milestone in 2023. Since the inception of the Charity Event in 2008, Cooperative employees and the Board of Directors have donated over $60,000 to 16 worthy organizations that make significant impacts in our local communities.

“The Charity Event is an annual testament to our employees’ generosity,” Katie Anderson, member and employee engagement coordinator, added. “The organizations that are chosen year-over-year are close to our employees’ hearts and I think that is a direct reflection on the continued success of this employee event to impact local, community organizations doing great work for others.”