- More than a dozen organizations helping Floridians
overcome hunger and financial challenges received
donations
ST.
PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 5, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy has awarded $425,000 to more than a dozen Florida organizations that provide food
assistance and other community resources to help seniors and
families throughout the state.
The funding, provided by the Duke Energy Foundation and Duke
Energy Florida, helped wrap up the holiday giving campaigns of many
organizations, with many including matching donations by private
donors, thus creating an even greater impact for customers and
communities.
"Every bit of support to local and statewide food banks and
community resources is helpful any time of year but particularly
during the holiday season," said Melissa
Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "We are proud
to support these incredible organizations and the great work they
do throughout the year to keep Floridians and their families fed,
healthy and secure."
This year's holiday donations are in addition to $100,000 donated previously to Feeding Florida, a
statewide organization dedicated to providing healthy, nutritious
meals through its network of food banks.
"We are grateful for Duke Energy's investment in our capacity
building, as well as the extra steps they've taken to provide
healthy food for those who need it most," said Robin Safley, Feeding Florida executive
director. "The refrigeration Duke Energy funded allowed more than
45 local food pantries to store and distribute more nutritious food
than ever before, and this most recent gift will fill those coolers
with fresh Florida produce. This
effort will provide positive health impacts for years to come."
The funding also allowed the Florida Council on Aging (FCOA) to
distribute free holiday gift cards for seniors through various
organizations throughout the state.
"The Florida Council on Aging is happy to have a relationship
with Duke Energy and its Foundation because they truly share our
commitment in giving back to the community," said Jeff Johnson, FCOA president. "In December,
1,750 seniors in 11 different counties received gift cards to be
used at a retail establishment through the generosity of Duke
Energy and its Foundation.
"FCOA thanks Duke Energy for their support and the numerous
service providers who distributed the gift cards," said Johnson.
"Thank you all for making the holidays brighter for Florida seniors."
Some of the organizations that received funding include:
- Feeding Florida
- Florida Council on Aging, to be distributed through the
following organizations:
- Seniors First, Orange
County
- Neighborly Care Network, Pinellas
County
- Council on Aging of Volusia
County
- NU-HOPE Elder Care Services
- CARES, Pasco County
- Citrus County Support Services
- Marion Senior Services
- 211 Tampa Bay Cares
- St. Pete Free Clinic
- Second Harvest Food Bank of Central
Florida
- Hope Partnership in Central
Florida
- Community Food Bank in Citrus,
Hernando and Sumter counties
- Heartland Food Bank, Highlands
County
- Boys & Girls Club of Central
Florida
To learn more about assistance programs, including how to seek
utility bill assistance, visit duke-energy.com/HereToHelp or
call the Customer Care number listed on your energy bill.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,500
megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million
residential, commercial and industrial customers across a
13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
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 (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in
Charlotte, N.C., is one of
America's largest energy holding companies. Its electric utilities
serve 8.2 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, Indiana, Ohio
and Kentucky, and collectively own
50,000 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas unit serves
1.6 million customers in North
Carolina, South Carolina,
Tennessee, Ohio and Kentucky. The company employs 27,600
people.
Duke Energy is executing an aggressive clean energy transition
to achieve its goals of net-zero methane emissions from its natural
gas business by 2030 and net-zero carbon emissions from electricity
generation by 2050. The company has interim carbon emission targets
of at least 50% reduction from electric generation by 2030, 50% for
Scope 2 and certain Scope 3 upstream and downstream emissions by
2035, and 80% from electric generation by 2040. In addition, the
company is investing in major electric grid enhancements and energy
storage, and exploring zero-emission power generation technologies
such as hydrogen and advanced nuclear.
Duke Energy was named to Fortune's 2023 "World's Most Admired
Companies" list and Forbes' "World's Best Employers" list. More
information is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke
Energy News Center contains news releases, fact sheets, photos
and videos. Duke Energy's illumination features stories
about people, innovations, community topics and environmental
issues. Follow Duke Energy
on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Media contact: Audrey Stasko
Media line: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_AudreyS
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SOURCE Duke Energy