RALEIGH — The Duke Energy Foundation (DEF) will be giving funding to various North Carolina K-12 education organizations due to the COVID-19 crisis.
In a press release earlier this week, the DEF said that they will be providing $810,000 in grants to K-12 education programs and nonprofits. A list of the grants can be viewed at the end of this article.
The organizations receiving grants can use the funds to cover general operating expenses incurred during the COVID-19 crisis. The effort is focused on curbing summer reading loss, STEM and experiential learning.
“The nonprofit community is essential to the well-being and success of our state,” said Stephen De May, Duke Energy North Carolina president in a statement. “We are grateful for the work they do to serve our communities and want them to have some measure of flexibility during this time of uncertainty – it’s the right thing to do.”
DEF’s press release notes that a survey conducted by the North Carolina Center for Nonprofits says 70% of the nonprofits that responded indicated the financial burden of COVID-19 could affect the sustainability of their organization.
“A private nonprofit, Marbles Kids Museum relies on admission and ticket sales, memberships and events to fund a large portion of our operating budget,” said Sally Edwards, CEO of Marbles Kids Museum in the DEF press release.
Marbles Kids Museum is one of the 33 grant recipients chosen and will be given a grant of $20,000.
“Since COVID-19 forced us to close the museum to the public, we’ve had to reduce staff and delay major projects. This flexible funding from Duke Energy helped us pivot to connect virtually with our community during closure and implement new sustainability practices to ensure we emerge from this crisis viable and ready to spark imagination, discovery and learning through play,” Edwards said.
DEF contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts that are funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about DEF can be found at duke-energy.com/foundation.
Thirty-three organizations who have received grant awards:
- Asheville Museum of Science, Buncombe Co. – $20,000
- Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley, Durham & Orange Co. – $15,000
- Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central NC, Granville, Franklin, Halifax & Warren Co. – $20,000
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Coastal Plain, Greene, Lenoir & Pitt Co. – $15,000
- Chatham Education Foundation, Chatham Co. – $15,000
- Classroom Central, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Mecklenburg & Union Co. – $15,000
- Digi-Bridge, Mecklenburg Co. – $15,000
- East Durham Children’s Initiative, Durham Co. – $15,000
- EducationNC, statewide – $20,000
- Emily Krzyzewski Family Life Center, Durham Co. – $14,500
- FIRST North Carolina, statewide – $80,000
- Freedom School Partners, Mecklenburg Co. – $15,000
- Girl Scouts North Carolina Coastal Pines, Central & Eastern NC – $20,000
- Girl Scouts Hornets’ Nest Council, Anson, Cabarrus, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanley & Union Co. – $15,000
- Horizons Unlimited, Rowan-Salisbury School District, Rowan Co. – $35,000
- Kaleideum, Triad Region – $15,000
- Marbles Kids Museum, Central and Eastern NC – $20,000
- Masonboro.org, New Hanover Co. – $40,000
- Moore County Literacy Council, Moore Co. – $15,000
- Out Teach, Mecklenburg Co. – $40,000
- Project Scientist, Mecklenburg Co. – $20,000
- Promising Pages, Mecklenburg Co. – $20,000
- Read Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co. – $100,000
- Ready for School, Ready for Life, Guilford Co. – $12,500
- Renaissance West Community Initiative, Mecklenburg Co. – $15,000
- STEM West, Burke, Catawba & McDowell Co. – $10,500
- Teach for America, Charlotte & Triad, Mecklenburg & Guilford Co. – $30,000
- Teach for America, Eastern North Carolina, Eastern NC – $25,000
- The Foundation of Wayne Community College, Wayne Co. – $20,000
- The NC Agricultural Foundation, statewide – $50,000
- The YMCA of the Triangle, Triangle Region – $12,500
- UNC Pembroke Foundation, Robeson Co. – $20,000
- YMCA of Greater Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co. – $15,000
