NCSC Donates $75,000 to NRECA International Foundation
(NRECA International, November 2006)

Sheldon Petersen, Governor of NCSC, together with Martin Crowson of CFC give a check to NRECA International Foundation's Vivek Talvadkar and Ingrid Hunsicker.

National Cooperative Services Corporation (NCSC) recently donated $75,000 to NRECA International Foundation, with 50 percent of the money earmarked for a Guatemalan project already supported by Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, a Minnesota distribution system. NCSC, a CFC affiliate, provides electric cooperatives and their affiliates with specialized financing and related financial services.

“NCSC is our single biggest contributor, and we appreciate the support they offer,” said Vivek V. Talvadkar, executive director of NRECA International Foundation. “It makes a huge difference in the lives of those we work with.”

NRECA International provides people in developing countries access to safe, reliable and affordable electricity. These electrification programs have resulted in increased agricultural productivity, millions of new jobs in micro and small enterprises and higher incomes and quality of life for rural communities in over 40 countries around the world.

NCSC regularly contributes to NRECA International Foundation because of its reputation for helping those without access to electricity and to expand the cooperative model. Last year, NCSC donated $50,000 to the organization.

David George, CEO of Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, a 100-percent CFC borrower, is actively involved in the Guatemalan project that will receive half of NCSC’s contribution. He has already met with two directors of the Municipal de Zacapa in that country to discuss what they could offer to help the utility improve reliability and extend service lines.

George plans to take another trip to Guatemala in February—this time, with a bucket truck and all of the equipment necessary to outfit two line crews. “We decided that we needed to share our resources if we were doing well for ourselves,” said George, explaining why his cooperative participates in NRECA International Foundation’s outreach programs.

Talvadkar said that involvement in his organization’s programs can benefit everyone. “In addition to helping people in developing countries, American cooperative workers really realize how important their work is,” he said. “It reaffirms what they do here in the states and helps them understand the concept of helping the community at large.”