Peace Place, Inc., a domestic violence shelter serving Banks, Barrow and Jackson counties, has received a $7,500 grant from the CoBank Success Sharing Program, thanks to a nomination by Jackson EMC. The funding will support Peace Place’s “Teens for Healthy Relationships” program. 

“Due to an increase in teen dating violence, a $7,500 grant will enable us to offer presentations in middle and high schools, clubs, churches and libraries,” said Traci Bledsoe, executive director of Peace Place. “The ‘Teens for Healthy Relationships’ program teaches healthy behaviors, how to identify risky and dangerous behaviors and how to form healthy relationships in youth.” 

Jackson EMC provided Peace Place with a $7,500 donation in 2023. The donation was made possible using margin refunds that had been unclaimed by the electric cooperative’s members for five years. Legislation passed in 2005 permits Georgia’s electric cooperatives to use unclaimed margin refunds for charitable, educational and economic development contributions. 

This initial donation made Peace Place, Inc. eligible for a grant nomination from the CoBank Sharing Success Program, which matches contributions — up to $10,000 —made by its cooperative members, including Jackson EMC. 

You can read more about its work here: PEACE PLACE, INC. – PeacePlaceHome (peaceplaceinc.org)