Duke Energy awards $1M to support community assistance programs across N.C.

Aug. 3—CALDWELL COUNTY — As North Carolina communities continue to feel financial strain from the rising cost of basic needs, the Duke Energy Foundation is providing $1 million to support nonprofits dedicated to serving low-income communities. These grants will strengthen capacity and increase the impact of local agencies that are on the forefront of helping North Carolinians with essential services like meals and shelter.

"Duke Energy's long-term success is deeply intertwined with the wellbeing of the communities we serve," said Kendal Bowman, president of Duke Energy North Carolina. "Many nonprofits have experienced unprecedented demand in the last few years. These grants focus on building nonprofits' capacities so they can meet the increased need."

Grants were awarded to 39 nonprofits across the state, including Caldwell County Yokefellow in Lenoir and South Caldwell Christian Ministries in Granite Falls. Caldwell County Yokefellow was granted $40,000 and South Caldwell Christian Ministries was awarded $10,000.

"Yokefellow is so very thankful for this most generous financial gift in support of our work in Lenoir," said Yokefellow Executive Director Sharon Harmon. "These funds will be wisely invested in staffing increases that we've incurred to have human capacity to serve the growing volume of households in need."

Harmon explained that the awarded funds will be invested in cash register upgrades, new color copier equipment, a new scanner, and upgraded desktop computers.

"I would like to thank Duke Energy on behalf of the Board of Directors for South Caldwell Christian Ministries, for the $10,000 grant awarded to us," said Matt McPherson. "These funds will be used to purchase an electric pallet jack, new computers, and a new phone. These items will greatly enhance and expand our assistance to the community. With your continued support, our mission to assist the community can continue."

The Duke Energy Foundation provides philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation contributes more than $30 million annually in charitable gifts and is funded by Duke Energy shareholder dollars. More information about the Foundation can be found at dukeenergy. com/foundation.

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, 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 four-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 dukeenergy. com.