Piedmont Natural Gas Gifts $500,000 to THRIVE Campaign

 

Piedmont Natural Gas today announced a major gift to the THRIVE campaign, a donor-led initiative managed through a partnership with Foundation for the Carolinas, in support of the arts and cultural sector of Charlotte.  The Company’s gift of $500,000 will help the THRIVE campaign establish a sustainable platform for long-term funding and growth of  the arts and culture industry in Charlotte.

Funding of the arts in recent years has faced significant challenges due to declines in workplace giving, reductions in government support for the arts community, and funding models that have not evolved with Charlotte’s changing economy and population growth.

Commenting on today’s announcement was Thomas E. Skains, Chairman, President, and CEO of Piedmont Natural Gas, “We are excited to announce our gift today in support of the THRIVE campaign to sustain the arts and cultural sector in Charlotte.  Today’s gift is in addition to Piedmont’s ongoing annual support of the Arts and Science Council, which we believe is essential to a thriving arts community in Charlotte. That community has been dramatically impacted by economic challenges and changes in donor behavior in recent years so we view our gift today as a strategic investment in Charlotte and in the richness and diversity that a vibrant arts community brings to us all.”

Hugh McColl, former Chairman and CEO of Bank of America and chairman of the THRIVE Campaign, also commented on the arts and cultural sector in Charlotte and on the Company’s gift, “A great arts community is important to having a great city. Like everything important it requires our joint support.  Piedmont’s generous support of the THRIVE Campaign is wonderful news for Charlotte.  Piedmont has been an extraordinary supporter of Charlotte’s most important charitable needs and we thank them for continuing this extraordinary level of support for the Arts by supporting THRIVE.”