Duke Energy, one of the nation’s largest utility and energy providers, has announced a $125,000 investment in GreenLight Cincinnati. The funds will be distributed evenly over the next 5 years to the Fund.
GreenLight Cincinnati, part of a national venture philanthropy organization, raises and invests funds to bring innovative, high-impact approaches to Cincinnati that improve the economic mobility, opportunities and outcomes for low-income children and families.
“Our customers know Duke Energy as being committed to helping find solutions to issues facing our diverse community, said Jim Henning, president Duke Energy Ohio and Kentucky. “By partnering with GreenLight, we know we will be able to help transform the lives of low income families through innovative programs that can truly make a difference.”
Duke Energy joins a group of local founding investors announced last year, including the Deaconess Associations Foundation, Bethesda Inc., the Cincinnati Regional Business Committee, Interact for Health, P&G, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, United Way Greater Cincinnati, the Cincinnati Business Committee, Bank of America Charitable Foundation, John and Susan Simon, and other local philanthropic entities including the Woods Family, the Johnson Family, Dan and Susan Fleming, Marylou and John McIlwraith, the SC Ministry Foundation, the Crossroads Church and the Manual D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to add Duke Energy to our diverse coalition of investors dedicated to improving outcomes for low-income communities in Cincinnati,” said Tara Noland, GreenLight Cincinnati Executive Director. “As we complete our second selection cycle, this investment will accelerate our momentum and ensure ongoing portfolio success and growth.”
GreenLight Cincinnati works with the community to identify unmet and pressing needs facing families and children in poverty. With the help of its local Selection Advisory Council, GreenLight conducts a thorough diligence process and selects a nonprofit program with proven and measurable success to bring to Cincinnati.
GreenLight Cincinnati’s first portfolio organization, Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO), was announced in October of 2016 and launched earlier this year with a $600,000 investment. GreenLight brought CEO to Cincinnati to provide a brighter future for anyone with a recent criminal history who wants to work. CEO is already working to reach some of the 1800+ men and women who return home from prison to Hamilton County each year. In its other locations, CEO’s program has shown a 16-22 percent reduction in recidivism and higher levels of immediate and long term employment.
The GreenLight model was launched in Boston in 2003 to address urban core needs such as college access and persistence, family economic mobility, academic success, youth recidivism and youth aging out of foster care. In addition to Cincinnati and Boston, GreenLight has expanded to Philadelphia, the San Francisco Bay Area, Detroit and Charlotte, announced earlier this week.
