2024 Year-in-review

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At SELCO, the best interests of our members and communities drive every decision we make.

In 2024, we remained focused on contributing to and expanding our community initiatives. What came of it? Some significant improvements.

Steps Up Launch

To address how we met the needs of our community, we reimagined and expanded our community involvement program by launching Steps Up. In the program’s first year, we donated more than $443,000 to community giving, student and educator support, and financial education. Not only did we provide funding for our nonprofit and educational causes, but we also offered up our time, contributing 1,000-plus hours of team member volunteering.

Investing in Education

Of the total that SELCO donated in the first year of Steps Up, $42,000 was awarded to three schools in different regions of Oregon through SELCO’s Classroom Makeovers. This program funds classroom transformations aiming to inspire students and develop their love of learning. The three Classroom Makeover recipients in 2024 were Prairie Mountain School in Eugene, Jefferson Elementary School in Jefferson, and Caldera High School in Bend.

We’re ecstatic about the inaugural Classroom Makeover winners and will continue to fund these transformations for years to come, along with our Creative Educator Grants. The two form our educator initiatives, welcoming applications each year for K-12 educators, opening on August 15 and closing on September 30.

Our scholarship program also received an upgrade in 2024, expanding eligibility to vocational, continuing, and non-traditional students for the first time. We also increased the total amount awarded by nearly 50%, providing $77,500 to our recipients.

Elminating barriers to education

The goal of expanding scholarship eligibility was to meet these students where they’re at and to eliminate barriers that may be limiting their ability to continue their education.

“Becoming the first person to receive a SELCO scholarship for a trade was an amazing feeling,” said Reese Biehler, current Hunter Communications Aerial Lineman. “With the help of that scholarship I completed my training and am already in my career. Earning that scholarship was a big help, and it truly made me feel like I was included.”

Biehler is just one of many students who pursue a vocational route, and we fully support the idea of students following a path that best fits them, whether traditional or not

Housing Support

While our focus tends to coincide with educational initiatives, we also strive to improve the general wellbeing of members in our communities. A nonprofit located in Lane County caught our attention in 2024—SquareOne Villages. They build and support self-managed communities of cost-effective tiny homes for people in need of housing.

We believed partnering with SquareOne Villages would be the perfect opportunity to fulfill the critical needs of our community, so we decided to step up. With the help of matching funds from Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines, SELCO awarded $200,000 to SquareOne Villages.

Wrapping Up 2024

Year one of SELCO Steps Up set the tone for what is possible, and we’re excited to build on that momentum in 2025. It’s clear that meaningful impact starts with intentional action. By listening closely to the needs of our members and communities, we’ve laid the foundation for deeper, more purposeful involvement in the future. We look forward to expanding this work in the years ahead.

Published December 31, 2024