Lake Country Power is celebrating a milestone with its Operation Round Up® program this month (December 2011). The cooperative's member-driven charitable giving program has surpassed $1 Million in contributions after its Trust Board approved $38,000 in contributions to local community programs this month. Since the program's inception in October 2004, $1,030,240.10 has been distributed to hundreds of community-based projects and programs. The success of Operation Round Up® is credited to the nearly 66% of Lake Country Power members who participate in the program by lending a helping hand to the communities and residents of northern Minnesota. Operation Round Up® is a charitable program unique to electric co-ops, which is designed to provide financial assistance to worthwhile activities and community projects by "rounding up" member's electric bills to the nearest dollar. The average donation of each participating Lake Country Power member is $5.52 annually.