• Supports Pinellas County Schools' Future Cities program and enhanced experiences at Enterprise Village and Finance Park

• Brings total company donations to more than $4 million

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 10, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Thanks to a long-standing collaboration with Duke Energy Florida, the Duke Energy Foundation and Pinellas Education Foundation, thousands of students will experience real-world economic and innovative engineering concepts to help them reach their full potential both in and out of the classroom.

Duke Energy Foundation provided a $100,000 grant to Pinellas County Schools' Future Cities program to help students in grades six through eight explore and create sustainable solutions around energy, land conservation and environmental issues. Through the program, middle school students imagine, research, design and build cities of the future that showcase their solution to a citywide sustainability issue.

The company also renewed its longtime sponsorship of Pinellas County Schools' Stavros Institute Enterprise Village and Finance Park, where thousands of elementary and high school students travel from across the state to develop basic economic concepts, understand the process between businesses and consumers and learn how to make sound personal finance decisions. During last year's school year, more than 14,000 students attended the storefronts.

"Enterprise Village and Finance Park have grown into one of Pinellas County's most popular destinations and innovative learning experiences," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "Many of our employees and retirees have fond memories of Enterprise Village, visiting as students, volunteers or chaperones, which speaks to the lasting impact Pinellas Education Foundation programs have on our communities."

This year, Duke Energy Florida upgraded its storefronts in Enterprise Village and Finance Park to reflect a smarter, brighter energy future with new energy efficiency jobs and innovative tools including thermal cameras, virtual reality experiences and renewable energy concepts. Duke Energy – then Florida Power Corporation – has been a sponsor of Enterprise Village since its inception in 1989.

"Duke Energy is a valued supporter of Pinellas Education Foundation," said Kim Jowell, Pinellas Education Foundation chief executive officer. "They have a long-standing commitment to having a presence in our signature Enterprise Village and Finance Park programs.

"This year, we are particularly excited they will be providing opportunities for students to explore and create sustainable solutions around energy and environmental issues," said Jowell. "Duke Energy exemplifies how investing in education enhances student learning experiences and drives academic success."