On August 28 the City of Pell City approved allowing a place on the City’s water bills for donating options to the Pell City Education Foundation.  Residents of Pell City will have a choice to choose from the following: (1) utility bill subscribers will be able to “round up” their water bill to the next even dollar amount; (2) choose a “dedicated” dollar amount i.e. $1.00, $5.00 or $10.00 monthly or (3) a onetime donation can be made by using a form provided by the Foundation through the City of Pell City Utility Department. 

To raise support, the Foundation will give away a $100.00 gift card every month to an eligible donor who chooses the “dedicated” dollar amount option.  This “give-a-way” will only be for the first year of this campaign.  These eligible donors’ names will be put into a hat and chosen randomly by the Foundation Board members.  The Foundation will also provide documentation annually to each donor at the end of the year for your tax deduction. 

The Pell City Education Foundation is a 501c3 formed in 1992 and is 25 years old. They currently supply grants to teachers from the interest from their $750,000 of investments, keeping overhead low. 

Last year, the foundation had 229 grant requests with a total of $57,037.15 and funded 86 of those with a total of $19,9889.19. Iola Roberts Elementary School was awarded 17 grants last year totaling $3,587. The Pell City High School was awarded the most money with $4,284.93 from ten grants.  

Since the founding of the Pell City Education Foundation, they have awarded more than $405,000 worth of direct grants to teachers.  

More information about the new utility bill donation program will be available through mailing or by calling the Pell City Water Department at 205-338-2244.