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.