GREENVILLE, S.C., Aug. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Duke
Energy Foundation recently awarded nearly $300,000 in grants to 11 South Carolina
organizations that impact communities served by Duke Energy through
nonprofit capacity-building efforts, expanding access to arts and
culture, and other strategic community initiatives.
"Nonprofit organizations are often the first line of defense in
communities across our state," said Kodwo
Ghartey-Tagoe, South Carolina
state president for Duke Energy. "These organizations must
have well-trained professionals leading those efforts. That is why
we support capacity-building initiatives that strengthen the
nonprofit community and help nonprofits fulfill their
missions."
At Francis Marion University in
Florence, S.C., the Non-Profit
Leadership Institute (NPLI) brings together nonprofit professionals
from across the Pee Dee region to develop and enhance their skills
over the course of several months. The Duke Energy Foundation is
funding scholarships to attend NPLI and to create a workshop on
grant writing.
"We're appreciative of Duke Energy's continued partnership with
Francis Marion University and its
support for our Non-Profit Leadership Institute," said Francis Marion University President Fred Carter. "The NPLI is one of our most
successful regional outreach initiatives. Better educated nonprofit
leaders make the Pee Dee a better place to live and work, and it
wouldn't happen without the sponsorship of community partners such
as Duke Energy."
Together SC supports and strengthens the state's nonprofit
community. They are receiving funding that will allow 40 nonprofit
leaders from across Duke Energy's service area to attend – many for
the first time – the SC Nonprofit Summit, the only statewide
gathering of more than 600 community-focused nonprofit leaders.
"When for-profit companies and nonprofits work together, our
impact is amplified across the state," said Madeleine McGee, president of Together SC. "The
significance of investing in the people who make good things happen
isn't always appreciated. We wish more corporate funders followed
Duke Energy's philosophy."
In addition to capacity-building grants, the Duke Energy
Foundation also awarded funds to organizations that help enhance
community vitality through programs and inititatives that impact
communities in a number of ways, including through arts education,
youth leadership programs and emergency response training.
Those grants were awarded to the following organizations:
- Chapman Cultural Center: To provide arts education to
all Spartanburg County schools, to
include 25 Title 1 schools.
- Chester County Historical Society: To offer hands-on
history education to 3rd and 8th grade
students and translate that into creative works of art and
literature.
- City of Sumter: To
provide access to the arts through 10 productions as part of the
Youth Education Scholarship (Y.E.S.) Program at the Sumter Opera House.
- Greenwood Community Theatre: To support community youth
outreach through the arts and fund The Penguin Project for children
with special needs.
- Greenville Symphony: The Duke Energy EdReach Program
introduces youngsters to simple music theory and the instruments
and musicians that comprise a symphony orchestra.
- Peace Center for the Performing Arts: To provide access
to the arts for nearly 26,000 students through the Peace Passport
Field Trip Series.
- American Red Cross: To recruit and train volunteers
across the state for many roles in disaster response efforts.
- Urban League of the
Upstate: To support leadership development after-school
programs for high school students in Greenville and Spartanburg counties.
The Foundation annually funds more than $33 million to communities throughout Duke
Energy's seven-state service area. In 2017, the company donated
more than $2 million to nonprofit
organizations in South
Carolina.
About Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to
address the needs of communities where its customers live and work.
The Foundation contributes more than $33
million annually in charitable gifts.
The Foundation's education focus spans kindergarten to career –
particularly science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) – as
well as early childhood literacy and workforce development. The
Foundation also supports environmental projects and community
impact initiatives, including arts and culture.
Duke Energy employees and retirees actively contribute to their
communities as volunteers and leaders with a wide variety of
nonprofit organizations. Duke Energy is committed to building on
its legacy of community service. For more information,
visit duke-energy.com/foundation.
The Duke Energy Foundation is part of Duke Energy (NYSE:
DUK).
Headquartered in Charlotte,
N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding
companies in the U.S., with approximately 29,000 employees and a
generating capacity of 49,500 megawatts. The company is
transforming its customers' experience, modernizing its energy
grid, generating cleaner energy and expanding its natural gas
infrastructure to create a smarter energy future for the people and
communities it serves.
A Fortune 125 company, Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2018
"World's Most Admired Companies" list and Forbes' 2018 "America's
Best Employers" list.
More information about the company is available at
duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center includes news
releases, fact sheets, photos, videos and other materials. Duke
Energy's illumination features stories about people, innovations,
community topics and environmental issues. Follow Duke Energy on
Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Contact: Ryan Mosier
24-Hour: 800.559.3853
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SOURCE Duke Energy