Duke Energy Foundation and the Tampa Bay Rays have jointly announced an $82,000 donation to assist Florida residents with their energy bills. The initiative was based on a pledge by the Duke Energy Foundation to contribute $1,000 for every Tampa Bay Rays win during the 2025 regular season. The funds will be distributed through the Share the Light Fund, which works with community agencies to provide utility bill assistance.
Grants were presented to 14 local agencies during the Rays’ final home game of the season. Melissa Seixas, state president of Duke Energy Florida, stated, “While rates will decrease for Duke Energy Florida customers in March 2026, we understand many are still facing financial challenges and may have difficulty paying their bills. We remain committed to our customers and providing them with above-and-beyond service, so we appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with the Tampa Bay Rays, once again, to help connect them to the individualized support they need, when they need it most.”
The Share the Light Fund is designed for income-restricted Duke Energy customers who need help covering expenses such as electric, natural gas, oil or wood. In addition to this partnership’s contributions, Duke Energy Foundation matches donations up to $500,000 annually.
Brian Auld, President of the Tampa Bay Rays, said: “The Tampa Bay Rays, like Duke Energy, prioritize contributions that support our community’s needs. We are proud to continue this meaningful partnership and help Tampa Bay area residents – and all Floridians – manage their energy costs and power their lives.”
All money collected by Share the Light Fund goes directly to social service organizations such as United Way and Tampa Bay 2-1-1. So far in 2025, more than $491,000 has been distributed through this program. Customers seeking assistance can find more information at duke-energy.com/ShareTheLight.
Duke Energy Foundation supports communities where its customers live by providing over $30 million in philanthropic funding each year. The foundation is funded by shareholders of Duke Energy.
Duke Energy is one of America’s largest energy holding companies and serves millions of electric and natural gas customers across several states including Florida. Its subsidiary Duke Energy Florida supplies electricity throughout a large portion of Florida.
The Tampa Bay Rays have been active in Major League Baseball since 1998 and focus on community engagement through charitable work.
