Duke Energy : Florida arts community receives Duke Energy grants July 19, 2016

• Company invests nearly $175,000 in six arts and culture nonprofit agencies to enhance community vitality

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Six cultural and arts organizations in Florida have received $175,000 in grants from the Duke Energy Foundation to help enhance community vitality.

Grant recipients include philanthropic programs that provide access to and encourage an appreciation of arts and culture, as well as capacity-building initiatives to help organizations fulfill their missions through professional development programs and other tools.

'Arts and cultural programs help enhance the quality of life for many,' said Alex Glenn, state president of Duke Energy - Florida. 'We are proud to invest in developing and strengthening these nonprofit organizations to benefit the diverse communities we serve.'

Duke Energy Florida's community impact grant recipients include United Arts of Central Florida ($50,000), Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater ($50,000), Morean Center for Clay in St. Petersburg ($25,000), The Florida Orchestra ($25,000), Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra ($15,000) and Refuge House Inc. of the Big Bend ($10,000).

'As a recipient of our second Community Impact Grant in just two years, the positive effect these grants have had in making the arts accessible to our region's culturally diverse communities is an incredible testament to Duke Energy's philanthropic values,' said Flora Maria Garcia, president and CEO for United Arts of Central Florida. 'Through last year's grant, United Arts successfully expanded our outreach efforts into ethnically diverse communities throughout Central Florida, and, with this year's grant, the arts and cultural organizations that United Arts supports will be able to create more culturally diverse programming that is more inclusive and reflective of Central Florida's diverse landscape.'

Duke Energy has given more than $56 million to Florida charitable organizations since 2000.The grants are administered through the Duke Energy Foundation, which provides philanthropic support to address the needs vital to the health of communities served by Duke Energy, with a focus on kindergarten-to-career education, community impact and the environment. The application period for environmental grants is active and open through August. Visit the foundation's website for additional information.

Additionally, Duke Energy Florida employees volunteered more than 45,000 hours of community service within the last five years through the 'Duke Energy in Action' program. A wrap-up video highlighting Duke Energy Florida volunteer events is available at http://bit.ly/DEFcommunities.

For additional information on Duke Energy's community giving programs visit www.duke-energy.com/foundation.

Duke Energy Florida

Duke Energy Florida owns coal-fired and natural gas generation providing about 9,100 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 1.7 million customers in a 13,000-square-mile service area.

With its Florida regional headquarters located in St. Petersburg, Fla., Duke Energy is one of the largest electric power holding companies in the United States. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 7.4 million electric customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest, representing a population of approximately 24 million people. Its Commercial Portfolio and International business segments own and operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.

Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is an S&P 100 Stock Index company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com.

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