ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.,
Dec. 13, 2019 /PRNewswire/
-- The Duke Energy Foundation has awarded more than a
quarter-million dollars to 15 nonprofit organizations committed to
protecting and restoring Florida's
vital natural resources.
The grants will fund programs that protect and rehabilitate
Florida wildlife, as well as
conserve and restore native habitats. The grants also will fund
water quality and pollinator studies that increase biodiversity and
help preserve Florida's natural
resources.
"Protecting, restoring and rehabilitating Florida's environmental resources and native
species enables our communities to thrive," said Catherine Stempien, Duke Energy Florida state
president. "We're proud to partner across the state with
organizations that share our commitment to the environment, while
we continue to provide reliable service in a sustainable way."
This year's grant recipients are:
- Audubon Florida's Bald
Eagle Conservation Program: to protect, research and
rehabilitate bald eagles through the Audubon Center for Birds of
Prey Eagle Watch Program.
- Bok Tower Gardens'
Restoration of Sandhill and Scrub Habitat: to restore
critically imperiled habitats in Polk and Lake
Counties that are home to federally and state endangered plant
species.
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium's 2020 Sea Turtle Rescue,
Rehabilitation and Release and Conservation Program: to protect
endangered sea turtles and care for injured and sick sea turtles
with the goal of returning them to their ocean home.
- Florida Native Plant Society's Conservation and Habitat
Restoration for Two Endangered Mint Species: to monitor and
restore two of Florida's
endangered mints in Marion and
Lake counties.
- Florida Wildflower Foundation's Big Bend Roadside Surveys to
Discover Wildflower Areas as Pollinator Habitat: to survey
roadsides and adjacent easements in Florida's Big Bend region for wildflower
habitats that can be economically managed to build insect
pollinator habitats and pathways.
- Florida Wildlife Corridor's Ranch to Ridge Expedition:
to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor's 2019 Ranch to Ridge
Expedition and documentary film to educate and inspire the public
to understand, value and help conserve wild Florida.
- Florida Wild Mammal Association's Wildlife Rehabilitation
and Education Program: to help fund the wildlife hospital open
year-round that provides care to more than 1,000 animals yearly
that are sick, orphaned or injured until well enough to
release.
- Franklin's Promise Coalition Inc.'s Conservation Corps of
the Forgotten and Emerald Coasts: to provide young adults with
job training, academic programming, leadership skills and
additional support through a strategy of service that conserves,
protects and improves the environment, as well as community
resilience.
- Inwater Research Group Inc.'s Citrus County Sea Turtles:
Sea Turtle Conservation: to highlight the importance of sea
turtle habitats near Crystal River
and Homosassa, while teaching
local students and teachers about this incredible resource.
- Oakland Nature Preserve Inc.'s Upland Preserve Restorations
for Gopher Turtles and Other Species: to restore the upland
preserve and continue to provide habitat suitable for the
endangered gopher tortoise populations and their commensal
species.
- Rainbow River Conservation's Rainbow River Wood Duck Box
Maintenance and Upgrade Project: to upgrade and maintain 50
wood duck boxes along the Rainbow River in Marion County, which have been 98% productive
in hosting baby broods of ducks after 24 years.
- Trout Lake Nature Center's Exploring the Natural World:
to provide nature-based programs for students and adults in
Lake County and surrounding areas
through on-site field experiences.
- University of Florida: Florida
Museum of Natural History's Citizen Science: Common Loon Spring
Migration Tracking and Education: to train citizen scientists
who will survey the migration of Common Loons, vulnerable wintering
birds; data to be used to educate the public and understand
migratory pathways.
- West Pasco Audubon Society's Bird and Habitat Conservation
in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park: to conserve bird species and
habitat in Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park by building a bird blind
to provide cover for data collection, observation and a
non-disruptive encounter with wildlife.
- West Volusia Audubon's Sustainable Landscaping Principles
for Homeowner Associations, Builders and Developers: to train
homeowner associations, developers and builders on how to utilize
sustainable Florida landscaping
techniques to reduce the need for fertilizer and irrigation, build
a demonstration garden to showcase techniques, develop a
sustainable plant guide and conduct follow-up surveys.
- Withlacoochee Aquatic Restoration's Water Quality Study for
Restoration Plan Completion: to gather data to complete the
design of a restoration plan for the Withlacoochee River, as a
final step of a two-year water quality monitoring study
"Thanks to the support of Duke Energy, Clearwater Marine
Aquarium is able to continue the extraordinary work done through
our Sea Turtle Conservation Program," said David Yates, Clearwater Marine Aquarium CEO.
"We're proud to have a partner that values our mission and works to
build a better environment for future generations."
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to
meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and
work. It has invested $2.8 million in
181 Florida nonprofits this year. More
information about the Foundation and its Powerful Communities
program can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.
Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to
meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and
work. The Foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts and is
funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about
the Foundation and its Powerful Communities program can be found at
duke-energy.com/foundation.
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of the
largest energy holding companies in the U.S. It employs 30,000
people and has an electric generating capacity of 51,000 megawatts
through its regulated utilities, and 3,000 megawatts through its
nonregulated Duke Energy Renewables unit.
Duke Energy is transforming its customers' experience,
modernizing the energy grid, generating cleaner energy and
expanding natural gas infrastructure to create a smarter energy
future for the people and communities it serves. The Electric
Utilities and Infrastructure unit's regulated utilities serve
approximately 7.7 million retail electric customers in six states –
North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky. The Gas Utilities
and Infrastructure unit distributes natural gas to more than 1.6
million customers in five states – North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The Duke Energy Renewables unit
operates wind and solar generation facilities across the U.S., as
well as energy storage and microgrid projects.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2019 "World's Most Admired
Companies" list, and Forbes' 2019 "America's Best Employers" list.
More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.
The Duke Energy News Center contains 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: Peveeta Persaud
Office: 727.820.5592 | 24-Hour: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_PeveetaP
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SOURCE Duke Energy