Duke Energy will join DonorsChoose.org to provide $175,000 in matching grants for teachers in its service area who wish to foster literacy, as well as mastery in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Public school teachers in Richmond County may submit literacy proposals for students in kindergarten through third grade, as well as STEM project proposals for those in all grades to DonorsChoose.org. Total project goals may not exceed $1,000, including as much as $500 from DonorsChoose.

The Duke Energy Foundation will match all donations made toward classroom projects, to as much as $500, until it has pledged $175,000.

Community members may contribute to the projects by visiting DonorsChoose.org and searching for projects by school name, teacher name and/or the “North Carolina STEM and Literacy” project category.

Staff report