Community

PEC golf tournament raises more than $15,000 for NRECA International

PEC's Leadership Academy hosted the fundraiser to help fund electric service in developing countries

08.24.17

This past Saturday, the PEC Leadership Academy, a leadership development program designed by and for PEC employees, hosted the Helping Haiti Golf Tournament to raise money for National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) International.

Employee taking swing at golf course.
PEC Regional Operations Supervisor Jesse Galindo hits a shot at the Helping Haiti golf tournament at Delaware Springs Golf Course.
Arrow
Arrow
Pec employees outside with a red truck
(Left to right): PEC Member Services Agent Cassie Edwards, PEC Electrical Distribution Designer Brandon Butts, PEC Lineworker Apprentice Daniel Sanders and PEC Records Administrator Brandye Patterson are students of this year’s leadership academy, which planned and organized the golf tournament fundraiser.

Ninety-three golfers participated in a four-person scramble at Delaware Springs Golf Course in Burnet, raising more than $15,000 for the improvement of electric service in developing countries.

The fundraiser’s cause hit close to home: In 2015, PEC sent a three-man crew of lineworkers to help NRECA International improve and extend the electric system serving three rural villages in Haiti. The system — part of Cooperative Electrique de l’Arrondissement des Coteaux (CEAC), the first Haitian electric cooperative — was hard hit just 13 months later during Hurricane Matthew. When our current leadership academy group selected their required service project, it was a no-brainer: They knew they wanted to help bring light back to Haiti.

“The cohort did a fantastic job organizing and running the event together,” PEC Director of Organizational Development Amanda Hoefling said. “They are incredibly excited to give NRECA International this money to help buy equipment like poles, conductors and transformers for rebuilding CEAC.”

More than 20 businesses helped sponsor the event and provided prizes for the winning teams. PEC Regional Operations Supervisor Seth Shelburn made a hole-in-one and won a head-to-toe golf outfit and a $500 online shopping spree. The first-, second- and third-prize winning teams received congratulatory plaques, a free round of golf and bragging rights to boot.

“The event was for a great cause, but it also served another purpose, which was bringing people together to have fun in a team-oriented environment,” Hoefling said. “I think that’s just as valuable as the money we’ve raised for NRECA International.”

To learn more about NRECA International and their efforts, visit www.nrecainternational.coop.