Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham Receives $40,000 Contribution from Progress Energy
Check Presentation Today
October 04, 2011ROCKINGHAM, N.C. – Progress Energy has announced a $40,000 gift to Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham as part of an initiative to actively build and support the communities it serves. The Fortune 500 electric utility will present the donation at a formal check presentation on October 4 in Rockingham with representatives from both organizations in attendance. Currently under development, the new Museum in Richmond County will be the second Discovery Place KIDS, offering a hands-on, creative learning-through-play environment for children.
“Progress Energy is a proud partner with this community and Richmond County, and we are pleased to make this contribution to Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham,” said David McNeill, community relations manager for Progress Energy Carolinas. “For more than a century, the success of our company has been closely tied to the growth and vitality of our communities. We are confident that this extraordinary Museum will provide creative educational experiences for children and their families that will enhance the quality of life in this region for generations to come.”
Supporting education is a cornerstone of Progress Energy’s investment in the areas where it provides services. The company’s Sherwood H. Smith Jr. Energy Complex located near Hamlet provides 1,890 megawatts of electricity to Progress Energy customers. The company is taking a balanced approach to meet the needs of its customers, including aggressive energy-efficient programs, investments in renewable energy technologies, and state-of-the-art power plants and energy-delivery systems.
“Community strength is rooted in the companies, organizations and people that take the time to thoughtfully invest in those places, and Progress Energy has proven that they are a committed neighbor,” said John Mackay, president and CEO of Discovery Place, Inc. “Their leadership as a local company helping to ensure a thriving future for the community is impressive and we are grateful to have their support.”
The check presentation will take place on Tuesday, October 4 at 4:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Chambers of the County Administration building in Rockingham. Attendees will include Progress Energy community relations manager David McNeill, Discovery Place president and CEO John Mackay, Discovery Place KIDS capital campaign co-chairs Russell Bennett and Neil Cadieu, corporate committee chair Anne Edwards, vice chairman of Richmond County commission John Garner and chairman of Richmond County commission Kenneth Robinette.
The Progress Energy gift will go towards the Museum’s program development. Discovery Place KIDS-Rockingham will be housed in the old McKenzie Furniture building located in downtown Rockingham. The City of Rockingham, as the facility partner, will own, operate and maintain the building.
About Discovery Place
One of the top hands-on science museums in the nation, Discovery Place provides ever-changing, entertaining facilities that engage the public in the active exploration of science and nature. More than a half-million people from all over the United States visit Discovery Place, its IMAX® Dome Theatre and Charlotte Nature Museum each year. In June 2010, the Museum completed an 18-month, $31.6 million renovation, resulting in a completely transformed and re-imagined experience with all-new interactive exhibits. Discovery Place is supported, in part, with operating support from the Arts & Science Council.
Discovery Place is located in uptown Charlotte at 301 N. Tryon Street. Convenient parking is available in the Museum’s parking deck – the Carol Grotnes Belk Complex – at the corner of Sixth and Church Streets. For more information about Discovery Place call (704) 372-6261 or visit discoveryplace.org or connect with Discovery Place on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
About Discovery Place KIDS
Discovery Place KIDS is an innovative model in regional children’s museums developed by Discovery Place, Inc., the parent company of Discovery Place and Charlotte Nature Museum. Discovery Place KIDS is built on the theme of “I CAN” and offers unique opportunities for learning through play for children and their parents or caregivers. For more information about Discovery Place KIDS, call 704-372-6261 or visit discoveryplaceKIDS.org.
About Progress Energy
Progress Energy (NYSE: PGN), headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., is a Fortune 500 energy company with more than 22,000 megawatts of generation capacity and approximately $10 billion in annual revenues. Progress Energy includes two major electric utilities that serve about 3.1 million customers in the Carolinas and Florida. The company has earned the Edison Electric Institute’s Edison Award, the industry’s highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence, and was the first utility to receive the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder’s Award for customer service. The company is pursuing a balanced strategy for a secure energy future, which includes aggressive energy-efficiency programs, investments in renewable energy technologies and a state-of-the-art electricity system. Progress Energy celebrated a century of service in 2008. Visit the company’s website at progress-energy.com
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