UPSTATE — The Duke Energy Foundation has announced more than $340,000 in grants to support South Carolina K-12 education programs focused on summer reading loss, STEM and experiential learning.

Given the COVID-19 crisis, the foundation has given each grantee the opportunity for additional flexibility and the option to use the funds to address unforeseen operational challenges.

United Way of Pickens County was awarded a $25,000 as part of the program.

“Nonprofits are on the frontlines of the pandemic response. Having the flexibility to move funds where they are needed most right now is critical to their success,” Duke Energy South Carolina president Mike Callahan said. “Funding these programs is significant, but helping organizations survive now so they can continue to deliver these services down the road just makes sense.”

Together SC, the state alliance that brings nonprofit organizations and their staffs together to help strengthen the state’s nonprofit community, understands firsthand the needs nonprofits are facing and the value of flexibility.

“Duke Energy’s thoughtful decision to permit grantees to redirect grant funds to more urgent COVID-19 needs is a brilliant move,” Together SC president Madeleine McGee said. “These funds may well be what gets these organizations and those they serve through the next few months.”

Some nonprofits across the state are already feeling the impact and have indicated plans to use the funds for COVID-19 response and modify the program to meet both the needs of the students and their organization.