Announcing our 2024 Shine the Light Winners

Earlier this summer, the Touchstone Energy Cooperatives of Iowa sponsored their fourth annual Shine the Light contest to highlight our cooperative commitment to community. During the month of June, member-consumers and employees of Iowa's locally owned electric cooperatives were invited to nominate volunteers in their communities who are working to improve quality of life.

"This contest gives our members and employees an opportunity to show their appreciation for family, friends and neighbors who are making a positive difference in the community," remarked Erin Campbell, director of communications for the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives.

75 nominations were submitted from across the state, highlighting the work of many incredible Iowans. The following three winners were selected:

• Judy Hess of Fonda was nominated by Kerry Noethe, who is a member-consumer of Calhoun County Electric Cooperative Association. Judy was selected as a 2024 Shine the Light winner for her work with MAGS 4 Fonda, which is a group of mothers and grandmothers who work to improve the parks and pool in the small northwestern Iowa community of Fonda. Judy started the group in 2018 and is the sparkplug who comes up with creative fundraisers. Shine the Light's $3,000 donation to MAGS 4 Fonda in Judy's honor will be used towards their current project to improve Fonda's basketball court with a new VersaCourt surface. Watch Judy's video at https://youtu.be/JFTfBJ91sA8.
  
• Doug Pralle of Hampton was nominated by Madison Alert, who is an employee of Franklin Rural Electric Cooperative. Doug was selected as a 2024 Shine the Light winner for his work with Compassion Flights, which arranges free air transportation for medical treatment. Doug is a pilot and founded the nonprofit in 2017. Growing up, his family experienced kindness from others when his father was in the hospital and Doug works to extend that kindness to others in need. Learn more and complete a flight request form at www.compassionflights.com. Compassion Flights will use the $3,000 donation for general operating expenses. Watch Doug's video at https://youtu.be/ZRUx2ZNoXt4.

• Beth Thole of Sibley was nominated by Gary and Karen Trei, who are member-consumers of Oceola Electric Cooperative. Beth was named as a 2024 Shine the Light contest winner for her work with Osceola County Ag Pavilion. As a board member of the local McCallum Museum, she is committed to preserving the area's agricultural history. She has worked tirelessly to raise funds and help build the Ag Pavilion on the Osceola County fairgrounds. The pavilion includes a farm house and a barn that are filled with agricultural artifacts that Beth helped obtain. The Osceola County Ag Pavilion plans to use the $3,000 donation to purchase multi-purpose tables and a smart TV. Watch Beth's video at https://youtu.be/Xswm8zA1F9I.

The winners are also featured in the September issue of Iowa Electric Cooperative Living magazine and on the contest website at www.IowaShineTheLight.com; all of the 75 nominators and nominees were listed in the August issue of the magazine.

The Shine the Light contest will return next summer to celebrate our cooperative commitment to community; electric cooperative member-consumers can nominate a local volunteer during the month of June at www.IowaShineTheLight.com.

For More Information:

Erin Campbell
IAEC Director of Communications