Duke Energy invests nearly $620,000 to strengthen North Carolina's natural spaces, resilience and community pride this Earth Day

What they're saying:

• Kendal Bowman, Duke Energy's North Carolina president: "Earth Day is a reminder that caring for North Carolina means caring for the land, water and shared spaces that bring our communities together. Through these grants, we're supporting local organizations that know their communities best – whether they're restoring natural habitats, protecting clean water or improving parks and trails that families use every day."
   
• Dr. Mo Drinkard, Executive Director, CEO of Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation Inc.: "The Catawba River is the lifeblood of our region, and the Floating Classroom brings that reality into focus in a powerful and lasting way. Through hands-on, science-based experiences on the water, we are helping students and community members build a direct connection to the river and a deeper understanding of how to protect it. We are incredibly grateful to Duke Energy Foundation for their support in making this work possible and for their commitment to the long-term health of the Catawba-Wateree watershed."
   
• Michelle Leonard, Executive Director, North Carolina Friends of State Parks: "We are thrilled to be receiving funding from the Duke Energy Foundation's America250 grant program. Friends of State Parks works to support and enhance North Carolina's 35 State Parks, 25 State Natural Areas, and 4 State Recreation Areas. This grant will allow us to purchase much-needed tools, safety equipment and materials to support volunteers in parks across North Carolina. Thanks to the generosity of the Foundation, North Carolina's State Parks will be better equipped to maintain free and accessible trails, bike paths and beaches in our naturally wonderful state parks."

Strengthening environmental resilience:
Supporting conservation, habitat restoration, clean water and expanded access to nature across North Carolina.

• Anson County Homes of Hope (Anson County): Anson County Homes of Hope Park & Outdoor Classroom
• Boys & Girls Club of the Sandhills Inc. (Moore County): Literacy & Collaboration Garden
• Carteret Community College Foundation Inc. (Carteret County): Coastal Campus Native Restoration
• Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation Inc. (Mecklenburg County): Catawba River Floating Classroom Environmental Education Program
• Core Sound Waterfowl Museum (Carteret County): Down East Resilience Network – Documenting Our Changing Landscape, Understanding Our Challenges, Recognizing Our Opportunities
• Durham Community Land Trustees Inc. (Durham County): Healing Hayti Branch Creek Restoration
• Elkin Valley Trails Association Inc. (Wilkes County): Elkin Creek Headwaters Preserve
• Friends of Panthertown (Jackson County): Panthertown Valley Stewardship and Resiliency
• Foundation of the Caldwell Community College and Technical: (Caldwell County): Gunpowder Creek/Hudson Greenway Improvements
• Great Raleigh Cleanup (Wake County): Workforce for Change – Dignified Employment & Environmental Impact
• Keep North Carolina Beautiful (Statewide): North Carolina Beautiful's Greatest American Cleanup – Phase II
• New Leaf Society (Alamance County): Woody Ornamentals Garden at the Burlington Arboretum
• North Carolina Coastal Federation Inc. (Statewide): Coastal Restoration, Clean-ups & Youth Education
• North Carolina Wildlife Federation (Statewide): Scaling Up Community-Powered Wildlife Habitat Restoration in North Carolina to Enhance Biodiversity and Connect More People to Nature
• Partners for Environmental Justice (Wake County): Walnut Creek Watershed Learning Network
• Person County Friends of the Parks Inc. (Person County): Rotary Club of Roxboro Centennial Park – Multi‑Use Trail Construction
• Preservation Warrenton Inc. (Warren County): Macon & Main Historic Park – A Community Space for Sharing Warrenton's Story
• Raleigh City Farm (Wake County): Increasing Community Access to Food Through Regenerative Farming
• RiverLink Inc. (Buncombe County): Take Me to the River – Ecosystem Restoration in a New Public Park for a More Resilient Swannanoa
• Rutherford Outdoor Coalition Inc. (Rutherford County): Broad River Emergency Preparedness, Stewardship and Education
• Shades of Adventure (Durham County): Powering Belonging Outdoors – Solar STEM & Energy Education for Durham Youth
• Three Rivers Land Trust (Rowan County): Tuckertown Game Lands Conservation and Community Resilience Project
• Trees for the Triangle (Wake County): Strengthening Native Canopy
• Western Piedmont Foundation Inc. (Burke County): Trail Restoration Plan for Heavy Equipment Operator Location
• YMCA of Wilmington Inc. (Pender County): YMCA Camp Kirkwood Scholarships

Caring for North Carolina:
Investing in local parks, trails and shared outdoor spaces that connect communities to their history and to one another.