San Patricio Electric Cooperative, in partnership with CoBank, presented a $5,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Beeville on October 20.

Each year, the Boys & Girls Club of Beeville cares for more than 1,000 local youth, ages 6-18, by offering them a safe, supervised, drug-free environment where they can spend their time after school and during the summer break.

The Boys & Girls Club will use the $5,000 donation for a new technology initiative, offering a free Wi-Fi enabled computer lab to the community of Beeville and the surrounding areas. The organization’s current computer lab has been rendered largely unusable due to outdated technology. At the time of the donation, they had just four working computers for the kids to use. The funds provided by SPEC and CoBank will be used to purchase new computers and tablets that the Boys & Girls Club hopes will remove barriers for individuals without access to a home computer or internet.

"The Boys & Girls Club of Beeville is so thankful for this generous gift,” said John Corkill, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Beeville. “San Patricio Electric Cooperative is truly committed to assisting the youth of Bee County."

They plan to use the new equipment to help school-age children with their homework, provide internet access for adults trying to complete their GED and assist community members seeking to complete online college classes or coursework.

“The Boys & Girls Club touches the lives of many local kids by providing them with a fun and safe place to spend time, help with schoolwork and a dedicated team of mentors,” said Ron Hughes, SPEC General Manager. “We’re proud to help support their initiative and are excited to see what they will accomplish with the new computers.”

Earlier this year, SPEC’s Board of Directors approved a $2,500 donation to the organization. In hopes of doubling the amount, the co-op applied to CoBank’s Sharing Success Program, which matches cooperative donations to non-profits. CoBank approved SPEC’s application, bringing the total donation up to $5,000.

CoBank started the Sharing Success in 2012 as a way to give back to co-ops and the non-profits they support. Since the program’s inception, CoBank and its customers have together provided nearly $20 million in support to charitable organizations across the nation.

SPEC and CoBank have partnered on similar donations in the past through the Sharing Success program. Together, they donated $10,000 to the Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas in 2015; $10,000 to the South Texas Council Boy Scouts in 2014; and $10,000 the South Texas Children’s Home in 2013.