On Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, West River Electric Association (WREA) received recognition as the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) South Dakota Chapter’s 2023 Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation.

WREA CEO/General Manager, Dick Johnson, says, “We are deeply humbled and honored to receive the Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation Award from the SD Association of Fundraising Professionals. Thanks to Black Hills Works for nominating us. The 7th cooperative principle is ‘Concern for Community’. Because we are a member-owned cooperative, it is in our DNA that we give back to the communities we serve.”

About the Outstanding Philanthropic Corporation Award and West River Electric Association:

The award recognizes a business operating in South Dakota that has a significant record of exceptional generosity in its community or across the state. WREA’s philanthropy reaches small towns in its western South Dakota service area, covering 4,500 square miles. The association has benefited 265 organizations since 2001, 128 teachers since 2017, countless people with disabilities for over 25 years, and dozens of students through scholarships and leadership experiences. WREA’s culture of philanthropy encourages employee giving and volunteerism in the small towns where they work and live. Their employees are civic leaders, volunteer firefighters, EMS technicians, board members, and coaches. The association’s innovative philanthropic support, especially in rural communities, creates a sense of community and empowers benefactors to embrace a philanthropic heart.

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