Directors of the FKEC Members Charitable Trust Copy

FKEC’s Charitable Trust Makes Your Pennies Count

The FKEC Members Charitable Trust (“Trust”) was established in May 1994 as a community-minded program to accumulate and disburse funds for worthy purposes in FKEC’s service area (from Ocean Reef to Marathon). The Trust was not envisioned to replace or supplement existing services or organizations, but was developed to help fund those persons and needs of the community which have “fallen through the cracks” of other organizations or for those persons or groups who have no funding available.

The Trust accumulates and disburses all donations collected through FKEC’s Operation Round-Up® program (see facing page), a voluntary giving project which rounds members’ electric bills to the next dollar. The difference is deposited in trust for distribution by the Trust Board.

This dedicated board is made up of nine volunteers from four districts who review applications and meet monthly to determine how best to distribute the Trust’s funds. The board often faces difficult decisions as requests for assistance sometimes exceed available funds by 400%.

FKEC expresses heartfelt thanks to the Trustees who make this program possible, and to our participating members whose monthly generosity helps other members in need. The Trust Board and FKEC would also like to recognize FKEC Executive Assistant Susan Kohlhofer for her overall management of the Trust and for her tireless efforts and dedication.

Letter From a Member

“I would like to say a big thank you all for the help and support that you have given me. It has and will make a difference for me in my time of need. This is a great program for people in the Keys. I will not forget what you all have done for me. I will try to pass on the same warmth and understanding to all I meet in life!”

This thank you letter is from an FKEC member and disabled veteran who requested housing assistance while he recovered from a complicated leg injury. While he was receiving a VA pension and had filed for other assistance, further help was needed to pay his rent. The Trust voted on his case and provided a check to his landlord to cover a few month’s rent.

Meet your Trust Board of Directors