Planting Seeds That Last a Lifetime

For Clayton, Del., residents Larry and Leslie Cook, giving back is a way of life. The now-retired couple have been members of Delaware Electric Cooperative since they moved to the state in August 2013. “The electricity we receive from DEC is extremely reliable, and we’re proud to be members of an electric cooperative,” Larry says. 

Both are certified master gardeners and have a deep appreciation for gardening. They love to talk about the fresh bounty reaped from their 1,200-square-foot fruit and vegetable garden. While they joke about the frustrations of fending off hungry wildlife, the Cooks find immense joy in pouring time and effort into the garden and then savoring the fruits of their labor. When there are leftovers after canning and freezing, the surplus is donated to Mamie A. Warren Senior Center in nearby Smyrna. Leslie says, “Doing good for others is time well spent.”

But the Cooks aren’t just planting seeds in their backyard garden paradise. They have been donating to the Virginia, Maryland & Delaware Association of Electric Cooperative’s Education Scholarship Foundation for the last nine years. Sam Brumberg, vice president of the Foundation since 2017, says the Cooks are among the Foundation’s top donors.

“Our story is about thousands of donors — co-op member-consumers — coming together and making small donations that add up for a greater purpose,” Brumberg explains. “We couldn’t do it without loyal donors like the Cooks.”

“All — that would be 100% — of the money donated to the VMDAEC Education Scholarship Foundation goes directly to awarding scholarships to deserving youth. That should be a huge incentive to anyone to donate,” Larry
says. As with their love of gardening, the Cooks take pleasure in watching their contributions grow in the flourishing educational careers of local students. “I relied heavily on scholarships to get through my baccalaureate years,” Leslie explains. “I wouldn’t be in the position to provide scholarships for others now if they hadn’t been provided for me then.”

When it comes to philanthropic efforts, the Cooks are very intentional. They live “in a frugal way” in order to have the financial opportunity to give back. “We love it,” they both say in unison and then laugh at the coincidence. 

Larry and Leslie met at George Washington University while pursuing graduate degrees. They were in the same operations research class with more than 50 other students. “We’re both left-handed and there were only two desks in the classroom that were for left-handed students, and they just so happened to be right next to each other,” Leslie says. They joke that they were brought together by “desks of destiny.” The couple was married a year later, in 1980.

Together, the couple has a long list of educational degrees and accomplishments. “Education opens up doors and opportunities and is extremely important to us,” Larry says. “We love being able to help young people achieve their educational goals.” Leslie concurs, adding, “We feel it’s very important to give back by helping give students the gift of a higher education.” For more information about the Foundation or to donate, please visit 
vmdaec.com/scholarshipfoundation.