GREENVILLE, S.C., Feb. 25, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy is powering South Carolina with more than electricity. Last year, the utility donated more than $1.7 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the state.
Palmetto State grant recipients in 2015 included The Children's Museum of the Upstate, Keep Oconee Beautiful, Greenwood Community Theater, The Felician Center, Governor's School for Math and Science, Florence-Darlington Technical College, Central Carolinas Technical College, along with dozens of others.
"Giving back to the communities we serve is an integral part of Duke Energy's philosophy," said Clark Gillespy, Duke Energy's South Carolina president. "We look forward to continuing our legacy of providing community support through charitable giving and employee volunteerism in 2016 and beyond."
Duke Energy's philanthropy helped fund projects such as technical college programs that are focused on breaking the cycle of poverty through education, STEM-focused after-school programs for at-risk and underserved children, environmental education programs in public schools, health and safety services through the Red Cross for victims of natural disasters, and supporting cultural arts and arts-infused educational programs.
"Duke Energy has been a terrific partner for The Children's Museum of the Upstate, supporting our efforts to offer countless hours of STEM programming to our 150,000 visitors annually," said Nancy Halverson, president and CEO of The Children's Museum in Greenville. "Our popular programs integrate STEM concepts with hands-on learning projects and experiments that spark a lifelong passion for curiosity and learning through play."
The grants are administered through the Duke Energy Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to address the needs vital to the health of our communities, with a focus on education, environment, economic and workforce development and community impact.
The foundation annually funds more than $25 million to communities throughout Duke Energy's six-state service area.
"Duke Energy's support has provided opportunities for children in our learning center to visit state parks, participate in educational nature programs, perform science experiments and even enjoy dance classes for cultural enrichment," said Sister Suzanne Dziedzic, the director of the Felician Center, a nonprofit agency that helps enrich the lives of children in rural Williamsburg County. "Without this support, these children would not have access to these valuable educational opportunities."
Additionally, Duke Energy South Carolina employees volunteered more than 900 hours of community service last year through the "Duke Energy in Action" program.
In 2015, employees participated in many volunteer events in their communities, including supplying turkeys and helping to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for those in need in Seneca, cleaning up Lake Conestee Nature Park in Greenville, sprucing up Mineral Spring Park in Williamston for the annual Christmas celebration, and organizing food, clothing and school supply drives for those in need, 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 vital to the health of its communities. Annually, the Foundation funds more than $25 million in charitable grants, with a focus on education, environment, economic and workforce development, and community impact. Duke Energy has long been committed to supporting the communities where its customers and employees live and work, and will continue to build on this legacy. For more information, visit www.duke-energy.com/foundation.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is a Fortune 250 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.
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