Coming together to help the community

Thursday, November 7, was an important day at the Grand River Dam Authority. It was the day the “best of the best” was chosen, all while raising money for good causes. 

In conjunction with the November board meeting, it was the day GRDA’s State Charitable Campaign (SCC) group held its chili cook-off finale. With GRDA board members and management serving as judges, the cook-off winners from several different GRDA facilities brought their special recipes to the cooking competition. When all was said and done, GRDA’s Laurel Swift (also a member of the SCC) repeated as chili champion.

However, the event was about much more than food. The annual chili finale is actually just one of several events throughout the year, coordinated by the GRDA SCC, to raise funds that are then distributed to good causes all across the GRDA service area. Since its creation a few years back, the group has helped several different organizations such as the Eastern Oklahoma Food Bank, Mayes County Angel Tree, Help In Crisis, Ketchum Academic Foundation, Disabled Veteran and Mayes County Special Olympics team, just to name a few.

Whether it is a cook-off, 5K run, or a special t-shirt sale, all the SCC activities throughout the year are a labor of love for Team GRDA, as it helps to raise funds for these organizations and more.

“We are GRDA,” said Swift. “We are a team and the more we can work together the more it builds the employees and the community.”

Corie Ridgway, also a member of Team GRDA and the GRDA SCC echoed those comments. 

“I think the charitable campaign has been a success at GRDA because we have a great group of employees that is always willing to come together to try and help the community,” she said.

Headquartered in Vinita, GRDA is Oklahoma’s state-owned electric utility; fully funded by revenues from electric and water sales instead of taxes. Its mission is built around the 5E’s that Swift mentioned: employees, electricity, economic development, environmental stewardship and efficiency. 

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