Duke Energy Foundation awards emergency grants to support severe weather recovery in Ohio and Kentucky

Rhea-AI Summary

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), through the Duke Energy Foundation, announced emergency grants to support recovery from recent severe storms in Ohio and Kentucky that caused widespread damage and power outages for more than 180,000 customers at peak.

The Foundation is providing $75,000 to Freestore Foodbank for food, water and essentials, $15,000 to the American Red Cross for shelters and disaster recovery, and $10,000 to Matthew 25: Ministries for relief supplies and cleaning products. The company said these rapid-response grants complement ongoing power restoration efforts by Duke Energy crews and target immediate community needs beyond grid repair. The Duke Energy Foundation, funded by shareholders, provides nearly $30 million annually in philanthropic support across its service territories.

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• Funding will help local organizations provide critical assistance and resources to communities impacted by recent storms

CINCINNATI, Aug. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the severe storms that swept across Ohio and Kentucky, causing widespread damage, power outages, and fallen trees, the Duke Energy Foundation is providing emergency grant funding to local nonprofit organizations supporting relief and recovery efforts.

The rapid response grants will support community efforts to meet immediate needs in impacted areas, including:

• Freestore Foodbank– $75,000 to provide food, water and other necessities to communities impacted by the storm.
• American Red Cross – $15,000 to support shelter operations and disaster recovery efforts for impacted residents.
• Matthew 25: Ministries – $10,000 to distribute disaster relief supplies, hygiene kits, cleaning products and other recovery materials.

Why It Matters

"Our employees and contractors are working around the clock to restore power, but recovery doesn't end when the lights come back on," said Amy Spiller, Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky president. "These grants will help local organizations provide critical support to families and communities impacted by this storm, and we're proud to stand alongside our nonprofit partners during this recovery effort."

At the peak of the storm, more than 180,000 Duke Energy customers in Ohio and Kentucky experienced power outages. The severe weather brought damaging winds and downed trees throughout the region, impacting homes, businesses and community infrastructure.

"When severe weather strikes, local nonprofit organizations are often among the first to respond and the last to leave," said Loree Elswick, president of the Duke Energy Foundation. "These emergency grants will help our community partners meet immediate needs, provide support to vulnerable residents and help communities begin the recovery process. By working through trusted local organizations, we can help ensure assistance reaches people quickly and effectively."

Duke Energy crews continue to work to safely restore service to customers affected by the storm. The Foundation's investment complements those efforts by helping address community needs that extend beyond power restoration.

Duke Energy Foundation

The Duke Energy Foundation provides nearly $30 million annually in philanthropic support to meet the needs of communities where Duke Energy customers live and work. The Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders.

Duke Energy

Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), a Fortune 150 company headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is one of America's largest energy holding companies. The company's electric utilities serve 8.7 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, and collectively own 55,700 megawatts of energy capacity. Its natural gas utilities serve 1.6 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky.

Duke Energy is executing an energy modernization strategy, keeping customer value at the forefront as it invests in electric grid upgrades and efficient generation resources to strengthen the system and serve growing energy needs.

More information is available at duke-energy.com. Follow Duke Energy on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook for stories about the people and innovations powering its communities.

Media Contact: Gina DiPietro
24-hour: 800.559.3853

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SOURCE Duke Energy

FAQ

How much emergency grant funding did Duke Energy Foundation provide after the August 2026 storms in Ohio and Kentucky (DUK)?

Duke Energy Foundation provided a total of $100,000 in emergency grants. According to Duke Energy, $75,000 went to Freestore Foodbank, $15,000 to the American Red Cross, and $10,000 to Matthew 25: Ministries to support immediate storm relief and recovery efforts.

Which organizations received Duke Energy Foundation storm recovery grants in Ohio and Kentucky in August 2026?

Freestore Foodbank, the American Red Cross and Matthew 25: Ministries received the grants. According to Duke Energy, funds support food and water distribution, shelter operations, disaster recovery, and relief supplies such as hygiene kits, cleaning products and other recovery materials in impacted communities.

What storm impacts prompted Duke Energy Foundation’s August 13, 2026 grants in Ohio and Kentucky (DUK)?

Severe storms caused damaging winds, downed trees and extensive power outages across Ohio and Kentucky. According to Duke Energy, more than 180,000 customers lost power at the peak, prompting rapid-response grants to help nonprofits address immediate community needs beyond power restoration.

How do Duke Energy Foundation’s emergency grants relate to Duke Energy’s power restoration efforts in Ohio and Kentucky?

The grants are designed to complement ongoing power restoration work by Duke Energy crews. According to Duke Energy, while crews focus on safely restoring service, the Foundation’s funding helps nonprofits provide food, shelter, supplies and other critical support to affected residents during recovery.

How is the Duke Energy Foundation funded and how much does it give annually (DUK)?

The Duke Energy Foundation is funded by Duke Energy shareholders, not by customer rates. According to Duke Energy, the Foundation provides nearly $30 million annually in philanthropic support to communities across the company’s service areas, including Ohio and Kentucky.

What services will Freestore Foodbank, the Red Cross and Matthew 25: Ministries provide with Duke Energy Foundation’s storm grants?

They will provide food, water, shelter and recovery supplies to impacted residents. According to Duke Energy, Freestore Foodbank focuses on necessities, the American Red Cross on shelter and disaster recovery, and Matthew 25: Ministries on distributing hygiene kits, cleaning products and other relief materials.