For Immediate Release
Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative
P.O. Box 512
DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435
www.chelco.com
Communications & Community Affairs
communications@chelco.com
CHELCO member’s donation continues to impact local communities
DeFuniak Springs (Aug. 4, 2025) –In its second year of distribution, The Drebing Fund—a charitable initiative established in memory of long-time CHELCO member Muriel “Midge” Drebing—continues to create meaningful change across local communities.Mrs. Drebing, who passed away in October 2021, left an extraordinary $1.9 million gift to the CHELCO Foundation, the charitable arm of the local electric cooperative. Her generous bequest was made with the intent to support those in need in the community.
Following the approval of CHELCO’s CEO and Board of Trustees, the donated funds were invested to generate earnings from interest, dividends, and capital gains. To ensure the gift’s longevity, the gains and earnings are being distributed to help fund charitable initiatives and utility assistance programs.
In 2024, the fund awarded its first $90,000 in community support. That same amount will be distributed again this year, helping to sustain and expand local programs in Walton, Okaloosa, and surrounding counties:
- $67,500 will be granted to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that deliver educational opportunities, family services, and programs aimed at improving quality of life in Walton, Okaloosa, and surrounding counties.
- $22,500 will support partner agencies that assist CHELCO members with utility bill payments, helping families keep their lights on through difficult times.
“Mrs. Drebing’s legacy lives on through every family helped, every child supported, and every light that stays on,” said CHELCO CEO Steve Rhodes. “Her generosity continues to ripple through our communities in powerful ways.”
To learn more about the Drebing Fund and CHELCO’s other charitable initiatives, visit CHELCO.com/charitable-chelco.
Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CHELCO) is a not-for-profit electric distribution cooperative serving more than 70,000 accounts across Walton, Okaloosa, Holmes, and Santa Rosa counties.
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