Duke Energy Foundation provides funds to South Carolina K-12 education organizations during COVID-19 crisis
The Duke Energy Foundation has announced more than $340,000 in grants to support South Carolina K-12 education programs focused on summer reading loss, STEM and experiential learning.
Given the COVID-19 crisis, the Foundation has given each grantee the opportunity for additional flexibility and the option to use the funds to address unforeseen operational challenges.
“Nonprofits are on the front lines of the pandemic response. Having the flexibility to move funds where they are needed most right now is critical to their success,” said Mike Callahan, Duke Energy South Carolina president. “Funding these programs is significant, but helping organizations survive now so they can continue to deliver these services down the road just makes sense.”
Together SC, the state alliance that brings nonprofit organizations and their staffs together to help strengthen the state’s nonprofit community, understands firsthand the needs nonprofits are facing and the value of flexibility.
“Duke Energy’s thoughtful decision to permit grantees to redirect grant funds to more urgent COVID-19 needs is a brilliant move,” said Madeleine McGee, Together SC president. “These funds may well be what gets these organizations and those they serve through the next few months.”
Some nonprofits across the state are already feeling the impact and have indicated plans to use the funds for COVID-19 response and modify the program to meet both the needs of the students and their organization.
The Darlington County School District received $27,000 funding for a summer book mobile for students in Darlington, Lamar and Society Hill.
“We were so excited to receive this grant,” said Marisa Johnson, arts and innovative programs coordinator for the district.
“Due to the statewide school closures, we are forced to revisit our original plan and will now distribute books to our students at various locations around the county.
“We are extremely grateful for Duke Energy’s flexibility in allowing grantees to make programmatic changes because of the viral pandemic we are experiencing.
“Our students will have plenty of books to add to their home libraries thanks to Duke Energy.”
