FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — The Power of Change has awarded $122,185.32 in member-funded grants to 40 nonprofit organizations serving communities across Rappahannock Electric Cooperative’s 22-county service area.
The spring 2026 grants support programs focused on food insecurity, housing and shelter assistance, health care, education, emergency services and other community needs.
Notable initiatives include Cars Changing Lives, which received $5,000 for its Driving Change: Empowering Lives Through Reliable Transportation program; The Browntown Community Center Association, which received $5,000 for its Community Center Kitchen Remodel to support food pantry distributions and community events; and The Phoenix Project, which received $4,400 for its Answering the Call: 24/7 Support for Survivors program for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.
“The Power of Change shows what can happen when thousands of REC member-owners come together to support their communities,” said Casey Hollins, managing director – communications and public relations at REC. “An average contribution of just 51 cents a month helps fund programs that provide food, shelter, health care, education, emergency services and other critical support across our service area.”
Currently, more than 37,000 member-owners participate by rounding up their electric bill to the next whole dollar.
About The Power of Change
The Power of Change allows REC member-owners to voluntarily support nonprofits serving community needs across REC’s service area. Participating members round up their electric bills to the next whole dollar, with the average monthly contribution totaling 51 cents. Twice a year, these member-funded donations are awarded to local 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Since 2005, The Power of Change has invested $1.8 million back into the communities REC serves. Learn more at thepowerofchange.org
Spring 2026 The Power of Change Recipients included:
The Browntown Community Center Association, $5,000, Bentonville, (serves Warren County)
Cars Changing Lives, $5,000, Front Royal, (serves Warren, Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah and Page counties)
Coven of the Appalachian Mountains, $1,500, Dyke, (serves Albemarle, Louisa, Goochland, Madison, Greene, Orange, Page, Rockingham and Shenandoah counties)
Faithworks, $2,500, Winchester, (serves Clarke, Frederick, Shenandoah, Warren and Page counties)
Fauquier County Master Gardeners Association, $1,000, Warrenton, (serves Rappahannock and Fauquier counties)
Front Royal-Warren County C-CAP, $1,698.99, Front Royal, (serves Warren County)
Godfrey Miller Home Inc., $2,000, Winchester, (serves Frederick County)
LTLL Global Ministries – Harvest Missions Center, $1,800, Front Royal, (serves Page, Shenandoah, Warren, Rappahannock, Frederick and Clarke counties)
The Phoenix Project, $4,400, Front Royal, (serves Warren County)
St. Luke Community Clinic, $1,500, Front Royal, (serves Warren, Clarke, Frederick, Page and Shenandoah counties)
About Rappahannock Electric Cooperative
Serving more than 185,000 connections across portions of 22 Virginia counties, REC is a pillar in its communities, with over 18,000 miles of power lines extending from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay. For more information about REC, please visit www.myrec.coop. Follow REC on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.
