Duke Energy Foundation, Tampa Bay Rays donate $93,000 to help Florida customers pay energy bills

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy Florida customers are benefiting from the Tampa Bay Rays winning season. For each Rays win, the Duke Energy Foundation donated $1,000 to the company's Share the Light Fund, which distributes funds to social service agencies that provide energy bill payment assistance for customers. On Friday, Sept. 18, the Foundation presented $93,000 to 14 agencies serving communities across the state.  

"We've been headquartered in the Tampa Bay area for over 125 years, so we're naturally big Rays fans. Working with the team in this way, year after year, has only strengthened that relationship, while underscoring our shared commitment to helping individuals and families when they need it most," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "We encourage anyone who may be facing financial pressure or hardship to reach out now – there are many tools and programs, like the Share the Light Fund, that can offer some relief."

"Our partnership with Duke Energy Florida and their Share the Light Fund reflects the Rays ongoing commitment to the Tampa Bay community," said Anthony Rioles, Rays vice president of corporate partnerships. "We are proud to have the opportunity to turn our success on the field into meaningful support for our neighbors and fellow Floridians when they need it most."

The Share the Light Fund helps income-restricted Duke Energy customers pay for utility expenses, such as electric, natural gas, oil or wood. In addition to this initiative with the Rays, donations are made by customers, employees, retirees and company shareholders, with the Duke Energy Foundation matching up to $500,000 annually.

One hundred percent of funds donated to the Share the Light Fund are distributed to trusted local agencies helping customers across Duke Energy Florida's 35-county service territory.

These agencies received nearly $650,000 through the Share the Light Fund in 2025, followed by more than $436,000 from January through August 2026.

"An unexpected financial crisis can quickly put a household's stability at risk. Through our partnership with Duke Energy, Daystar Life has been able to help keep food and medications refrigerated, homes safely cooled and families secure across Pinellas County," said Heide Cornell, Daystar Life executive director. "This support does more than keep the lights on; it helps prevent a temporary setback from becoming a larger crisis and gives families the stability they need to move forward. We are grateful to Duke Energy for investing alongside Daystar in a stronger, more resilient community. "

"Duke Energy's continued support for our emergency assistance programs is a powerful reminder of what it means to stand behind the families in our community," said Jeff Hayward, Heart of Florida United Way president and CEO. "For Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed – or ALICE – families who are working hard and doing everything they can to make ends meet, an unexpected medical bill, natural disaster or increase in monthly expenses can quickly become a serious financial crisis. Through Share the Light, Duke Energy is helping ensure that when those moments come, families have somewhere to turn. We are deeply grateful for this partnership and for Duke Energy's commitment to being there for our neighbors when they need a helping hand."

Customers can visit duke-energy.com/ShareTheLight for more information about the Share the Light Fund, including eligibility requirements and a county-by-county listing of agencies.

Duke Energy Foundation
The Duke Energy Foundation provides more than $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 12,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 2 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. 

Duke Energy
Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays mission is to energize the community through the magic of Rays baseball. The organization is committed to building a strong community bond through meaningful interactions and charitable donations and has proudly represented Major League Baseball since 1998.

Duke Energy Florida Contact: Aly Raschid
24-Hour: 800.559.3853

Tampa Bay Rays Contact: De Anna Sheffield Ward
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE Duke Energy