Duke Energy powers Palmetto State communities with more than $2.8 million in grant funding in 2016

GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 24, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy is powering South Carolina with more than just electricity. Last year, the utility donated more than $2.8 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the state.

Palmetto State grant recipients in 2016 included the Urban League of the Upstate, United Way of Pickens County, Piedmont Agency on Aging, The Felician Center, Anne Springs Close Greenway, Florence-Darlington Technical College, Chapman Cultural Center, along with dozens of others.

"Community and service are integrated into everything our company does," said Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, Duke Energy's South Carolina president. "Through the Duke Energy Foundation, we provide philanthropic support to address the needs of the communities where our customers live and work, and we look forward to continuing that legacy of charitable giving and employee volunteerism in 2017 and beyond."

Duke Energy's philanthropy helped fund projects such as STEM-focused after-school programs for at-risk and underserved children, technical college programs that are focused on breaking the cycle of poverty through education, environmental education programs in public schools, multiple library systems to provide summer reading programs and supporting cultural arts and arts-infused educational programs.

"The Duke Energy that we know is local," said Jennifer Evins, president and CEO of the Chapman Cultural Center. "Our Duke Energy has been supporting the arts and sciences in Spartanburg for more than 30 years. Duke Energy has sponsored countless education programs and helped us put STEM and STEAM programs in every school in Spartanburg County."

The Duke Energy Foundation also proactively responded to the emergent needs of communities that arose in 2016, by giving $100,000 to the One SC Fund, Harvest Hope Food Bank and American Red Cross for relief after Hurricane Matthew, as well as $25,000 to the South Carolina State Firefighters' Association in response to wildfires in the Upstate.

The grants are administered through the Duke Energy Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to address the needs vital to the health of its communities, with a focus on "K to Career" educational and workforce development initiatives, the environment and community impact. The foundation annually funds more than $30 million to communities throughout Duke Energy's seven-state service area.

Additionally, Duke Energy South Carolina employees volunteered nearly 14,000 hours of community service last year through the "Duke Energy in Action" program.

In 2016, Duke Energy employees rolled up their sleeves to help their neighbors throughout South Carolina, including revitalizing playgrounds for at-risk youth, supplying turkeys and helping to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for those in need, and organizing food and school supply drives, just to name a few.

For additional information on Duke Energy's community giving programs visit www.duke-energy.com/foundation.

About The Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to address the needs of the communities where its customers live and work. The foundation provides more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts. The foundation's education focus spans kindergarten to career, particularly science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), early childhood literacy and workforce development. It also supports the environment and community impact initiatives, including arts and culture.

Duke Energy employees and retirees actively contribute to their communities as volunteers and leaders at a wide variety of nonprofit organizations. Duke Energy is committed to building on its legacy of community service. For more information, visit http://www.duke-energy.com/foundation.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is an S&P 100 Stock Index company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at http://duke-energy.com. 

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SOURCE Duke Energy