- Funding will help equip Floridians and first responders
with valuable information and supplies ahead of storms and
emergency events
ST.
PETERSBURG, Fla., June 25,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As tropical activity begins to
pick up this summer, so do Duke Energy's efforts to help
Florida customers and communities
prepare for hurricanes and other emergencies.
The Duke Energy Foundation, funded by Duke Energy shareholders,
recently awarded $180,000 in
emergency preparedness and resiliency grants to 13 organizations
and agencies in Florida. The
grants will help fund storm kits for seniors, community education
and outreach materials, as well as special equipment for first
responders, among other initiatives led by local emergency
management organizations.
"Community resilience and preparedness is a year-round effort,"
said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy
Florida state president. "We are grateful for the ongoing
collaboration and commitment of our first responders, emergency
management officials and community agencies to prepare, plan and
engage our communities. We have been through enough storms to know
that being prepared is our best defense."
Grants were awarded to the following organizations:
- Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas – $25,000
- Florida Housing Coalition – $25,000
- Florida Professional Firefighters Association – $25,000
- Hernando County Board of
County Commissioners – $12,500
- Highlands County Board of
County Commissioners – $15,000
- Inglis/Yankeetown Fire Rescue – $2,500
- Lake County Board of County
Commissioners – $5,000
- Madison County Board of County
Commissioners – $5,000
- Orange County Emergency
Management – $30,500
- Orlando Regional Realtor Foundation – $9,500
- Seminole County Sheriff's
Office Community Foundation – $15,000
- Taylor Senior Citizens Center – $5,000
- Youth Development Foundation of Pinellas County –
$5,000
Community resilience and preparedness are long-standing
priorities of the Duke Energy Foundation, which has awarded more
than $1.7 million to support
Florida's disaster preparedness
since 2019.
Duke Energy reminds customers that personal preparedness is key
to a more resilient home or business. For more tips on how to
prepare for storm season, please visit duke-energy.com/StormTips
and download the Red Cross Emergency app. The Duke Energy
Foundation will donate $1 to the Red
Cross for every app download through June
30, up to $20,000.
Duke Energy Florida
Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK),
owns 12,300 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 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.
Media contact: Audrey Stasko
Media line: 800.559.3853
Twitter: @DE_AudreyS
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SOURCE Duke Energy