PHOTO | CURTIS WILSON

The Charlotte Hornets Foundation donated $250,000 to emergency relief efforts related to the coronavirus outbreak in Charlotte.

More organizations are providing funding amid COVID-19.

The Charlotte Hornets Foundation and the Duke Energy Foundation announced their donations today. The Hornets Foundation will contribute $250,000 to emergency relief efforts. The United Way of Central Carolinas and the Foundation for the Carolinas will receive $100,000. Three nonprofits will receive $25,000 each—Carolina Farm Trust, Crisis Assistance Ministry and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro COVID-19 Emergency Response Fund. The latter is in support of their NBA G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. The Hornets will grant $75,000 to future needs based on COVID-19 later in the year. Also, organization employees will dedicate 1,000 hours of in-home volunteerism, such as administrative work or writing letters.

A specific section of the team’s website has been used to create a COVID-19 resource center: hornets.com/COVID19. It will highlight who the Hornets are supporting, places for donations to benefit nonprofits helping with the virus.

“Although we may not be currently playing games or hosting events, Hornets Sports & Entertainment prides itself on being an active, engaged and compassionate member of this community,” Hornets President and Vice Chairman Fred Whitfield said in a statement. “Through our Charlotte Hornets Foundation, we are proud to implement this three-pronged approach to assist with coronavirus relief efforts both immediately and in the future.”

The Duke Energy Foundation will provide $810,000 in grants to support North Carolina K-12 education programs and nonprofits focused on summer reading loss and STEM and experiential learning. The North Carolina Center for Nonprofits conducted a survey, which says 70 percent of the state’s nonprofits believe the financial strain caused by COVID-19 could impact the longevity of their organization.

The groups receiving Duke Energy Foundation donations are:

• YMCA of Greater Charlotte, Renaissance West Community Initiative, Girl Scouts Hornets’ Nest Council, Digi-Bridge, Freedom School Partners, Classroom Central ($15,000 each);

• Project Scientist Promising Pages and EducationNC ($20,000 each);

• Teach for America, Charlotte & Triad ($30,000 each);

• Out Teach ($40,000);

• NC Agricultural Foundation ($50,000);

• FIRST North Carolina ($80,000);

• Read Charlotte ($100,000);

“The nonprofit community is essential to the well-being and success of our state,” Stephen De May, Duke Energy North Carolina president said in a statement. “We are grateful for the work they do to serve our communities and want them to have some measure of flexibility during this time of uncertainty – it’s the right thing to do.”

Said Jeanne Tedrow, president and CEO of North Carolina Center for Nonprofits: “As this pandemic spreads in our local communities, the demand for services provided by the nonprofit sector is growing at a rapid pace. The need for flexible funds from both corporate and private foundations is paramount, and maintaining a safety net is critical not only for today’s response, but for the viability of our communities as we recover and rebuild.”

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