RALEIGH, N.C., July 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a continuing commitment to good corporate citizenship, Progress Energy today reported that the company's foundation investments in education-related initiatives totaled more than $325,000 in the second quarter of 2004.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-c )
"Progress Energy is committed to supporting education efforts in the communities it serves," said Bob McGehee, chairman, president and CEO of Progress Energy. "We seek to be good corporate citizens through our support of programs and projects that have a positive impact in the lives of our customers and employees."
Second quarter education investments include: North Carolina Partnership for Excellence -- $50,000
This investment will fund a leadership development program, called "Growing Future Leaders," that impacts 20 counties within the Progress Energy Carolinas service area. Growing Future Leaders seeks to grow potential future educational leaders in the public schools through a yearlong training program on how to apply the Baldridge framework to education. Progress Energy has supported the program for several years.
Wake Education Partnership -- $75,000
This grant will provide ongoing support of various organization programs. Funds will positively impact school leadership development within the Wake Leadership Academy. The funds will also be invested in helping improve teacher quality through the Kenan Fellows Program and the Food for Thought teacher grants that offer scholarships for professional development opportunities.
High Five Partnership -- $25,000
In partnership with the News & Observer and other Triangle area corporate sponsors, Progress Energy will help fund a collaboration between five school districts aimed at increasing students' graduation rates and preparation for community college or university admission.
"As an energy company, we are especially interested in improving student performance in math and science," McGehee added. "Since many of our hiring needs are for engineers, it is a priority to fund programs that will provide strong training to students and teachers in degree subjects critical to the company's success."
Several investments specifically relate to the company's priority of improving math and science performance:
North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) -- $25,000
This gift will provide scholarships for math and science teachers in the Progress Energy Carolinas service territory to attend NCCAT's weeklong National Board Certification seminar. Teachers will spend five days at the NCCAT's center in Cullowhee, reflecting on their teaching practices, preparing portfolios and working with teacher mentors. Progress Energy also funded this program in 2002 and 2003.
N.C. Agricultural & Technical State University -- $25,000
This grant will fund 10 scholarships to attract and retain female engineering students to N.C. A&T University. Scholarships will specifically go to African American female students enrolled in either mechanical or electrical engineering.
North Carolina Teachers and Scientists Collaborating (TASC) -- $50,000
TASC is a program of Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering. TASC helps school systems improve science education in grades K-8 by providing science materials, teacher training and teacher support from trained scientists. Progress Energy also funded this program in 2003.
North Carolina 4-H Development Fund -- $32,411
This grant will fund a statewide program that teaches youth about electricity and careers in the utility industry. Students will learn how electricity is generated, stored and used in business and industry, as well as how to conserve energy. The program also provides information about careers related to the electric utility industry.
Lee County Education Foundation -- $15,000
This gift will fund science instruction materials and teacher training to improve the quality of K-12 math and science teachers. This type of training is especially timely, as North Carolina recently established a science Standard Course of Study, and end of course testing will begin in 2007.
Triangle Urban League's TeachNet Program -- $25,000
This program will provide more than 60 Triangle teachers with four full days of instruction on how to successfully incorporate technology into the classroom. Progress Energy has provided general operating support for the Triangle Urban League since its inception in 2000, and in 2003 also provided funding for the TeachNet program.
The foundation's investments reflect the company's vision for improving the quality of life in the communities it serves. By concentrating its efforts in four strategic areas -- education, economic development, the environment and employee involvement -- Progress Energy has been able to make significant and effective contributions, maximizing the impact of funds.
Progress Energy , headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 diversified energy company with more than 24,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion in annual revenues. The company's holdings include two electric utilities serving more than 2.8 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Progress Energy also includes nonregulated operations covering competitive generation, energy marketing, natural gas exploration, fuel extraction, rail services and broadband capacity. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at http://www.progress-energy.com/ .
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-cAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Progress Energy, Inc.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-c )
"Progress Energy is committed to supporting education efforts in the communities it serves," said Bob McGehee, chairman, president and CEO of Progress Energy. "We seek to be good corporate citizens through our support of programs and projects that have a positive impact in the lives of our customers and employees."
Second quarter education investments include: North Carolina Partnership for Excellence -- $50,000
This investment will fund a leadership development program, called "Growing Future Leaders," that impacts 20 counties within the Progress Energy Carolinas service area. Growing Future Leaders seeks to grow potential future educational leaders in the public schools through a yearlong training program on how to apply the Baldridge framework to education. Progress Energy has supported the program for several years.
Wake Education Partnership -- $75,000
This grant will provide ongoing support of various organization programs. Funds will positively impact school leadership development within the Wake Leadership Academy. The funds will also be invested in helping improve teacher quality through the Kenan Fellows Program and the Food for Thought teacher grants that offer scholarships for professional development opportunities.
High Five Partnership -- $25,000
In partnership with the News & Observer and other Triangle area corporate sponsors, Progress Energy will help fund a collaboration between five school districts aimed at increasing students' graduation rates and preparation for community college or university admission.
"As an energy company, we are especially interested in improving student performance in math and science," McGehee added. "Since many of our hiring needs are for engineers, it is a priority to fund programs that will provide strong training to students and teachers in degree subjects critical to the company's success."
Several investments specifically relate to the company's priority of improving math and science performance:
North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) -- $25,000
This gift will provide scholarships for math and science teachers in the Progress Energy Carolinas service territory to attend NCCAT's weeklong National Board Certification seminar. Teachers will spend five days at the NCCAT's center in Cullowhee, reflecting on their teaching practices, preparing portfolios and working with teacher mentors. Progress Energy also funded this program in 2002 and 2003.
N.C. Agricultural & Technical State University -- $25,000
This grant will fund 10 scholarships to attract and retain female engineering students to N.C. A&T University. Scholarships will specifically go to African American female students enrolled in either mechanical or electrical engineering.
North Carolina Teachers and Scientists Collaborating (TASC) -- $50,000
TASC is a program of Duke University's Pratt School of Engineering. TASC helps school systems improve science education in grades K-8 by providing science materials, teacher training and teacher support from trained scientists. Progress Energy also funded this program in 2003.
North Carolina 4-H Development Fund -- $32,411
This grant will fund a statewide program that teaches youth about electricity and careers in the utility industry. Students will learn how electricity is generated, stored and used in business and industry, as well as how to conserve energy. The program also provides information about careers related to the electric utility industry.
Lee County Education Foundation -- $15,000
This gift will fund science instruction materials and teacher training to improve the quality of K-12 math and science teachers. This type of training is especially timely, as North Carolina recently established a science Standard Course of Study, and end of course testing will begin in 2007.
Triangle Urban League's TeachNet Program -- $25,000
This program will provide more than 60 Triangle teachers with four full days of instruction on how to successfully incorporate technology into the classroom. Progress Energy has provided general operating support for the Triangle Urban League since its inception in 2000, and in 2003 also provided funding for the TeachNet program.
The foundation's investments reflect the company's vision for improving the quality of life in the communities it serves. By concentrating its efforts in four strategic areas -- education, economic development, the environment and employee involvement -- Progress Energy has been able to make significant and effective contributions, maximizing the impact of funds.
Progress Energy , headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 diversified energy company with more than 24,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion in annual revenues. The company's holdings include two electric utilities serving more than 2.8 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Progress Energy also includes nonregulated operations covering competitive generation, energy marketing, natural gas exploration, fuel extraction, rail services and broadband capacity. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at http://www.progress-energy.com/ .
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/CHM008LOGO-cAP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Progress Energy, Inc.
