RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Progress Energy donated more than $13 million in 2005 to enhance education, promote economic development and protect the environment in the communities it serves and to support initiatives and institutions important to the company's more than 11,000 employees.
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"Everyone at Progress Energy is focused on meeting the needs of our customers to provide them with reliable power today and in the future," said Bob McGehee, chairman and chief executive officer at Progress Energy. "Our corporate giving reflects the same dedication and pursuit of excellence."
The company continued its long-standing support for K-12 education with a major grant to the Public School Forum of North Carolina to support a third Progress Energy Leadership Institute. The institute provides professional development opportunities and highlights best practices from the private and education sectors for high-performing superintendents, central office administrators, principals and assistant principals. Grants were also awarded to education foundations in 14 Florida counties for teacher training, mini- grants and lateral entry scholarships and to Communities in Schools of North Carolina and Wake County to strengthen the educational resources for at-risk students.
Employee giving was once again a key component of the company's philanthropic efforts. Employees pledged more than $1.9 million through the company's E-Giving campaign. Progress Energy provided nearly $1 million in matching funds to increase the impact of employee giving throughout its service territories. In addition to corporate and foundation giving in its four key focus areas, Progress Energy and its employees donated to relief efforts following the tsunami that struck southeast Asia in December 2004, and Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast in August 2005.
"I am especially proud of the spirit of giving demonstrated by our employees," said McGehee. "In addition to the funds our employees donate, our employees give their time as volunteers at schools, community organizations and special events that help improve the quality of life in the communities we serve."
The company continued its strong support of the arts and arts education. Progress Energy provided major grants to Ruth Eckerd Hall, the Salvador Dali Museum, the Florida Orchestra, the North Carolina Symphony and the Carolina Ballet. The company also contributed funds to a variety of initiatives to enhance economic development and vitality in Central Florida and the Carolinas.
Recognizing the difficulties customers are experiencing with the sharp increases in fuel costs, Progress Energy also contributed $350,000 to match contributions to the Energy Neighbor Fund. The company-sponsored program provides assistance to families in Florida and the Carolinas who cannot afford to pay their energy costs. One hundred percent of the funds raised through the program are distributed through social services offices and health and human service agencies within our communities.
Progress Energy , headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 250 diversified energy company with more than 24,500 megawatts of generation capacity and $9 billion in annual revenues. The company's holdings include two electric utilities serving more than 2.9 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Progress Energy also includes nonregulated operations covering merchant generation, energy marketing and natural gas exploration. Progress Energy was the 2005 recipient of the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for dedication, commitment and sustained improvement in customer service. For more information about Progress Energy, visit the company's Web site at http://www.progress-energy.com/.
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