Photo courtesy of Duke Energy
The Tampa Bay Rays’ winning season is helping Florida families pay their energy bills. At the Rays’ Sept. 18 game, the Duke Energy Foundation gave $93,000 to 14 agencies across the state. The agencies help people cover their utility costs.
The money comes from the foundation’s Share the Light Fund. For every Rays win this season, the foundation added $1,000 to the fund. The fund then sends money to social service agencies that help Duke Energy customers with their bills.
Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida’s state president, said the company has had its home in the Tampa Bay area for more than 125 years. “We’re naturally big Rays fans,” she said in a press release. She urged anyone facing money trouble to “reach out now,” because programs like Share the Light can offer some relief.
Anthony Rioles, the Rays’ vice president of corporate partnerships, said the team is proud to “turn our success on the field into meaningful support for our neighbors and fellow Floridians,” according to the press release.
How the Share the Light Fund Works
Share the Light helps customers with limited incomes pay for utilities, including power, gas, oil, or wood. The Rays are not the only source of money. According to the press release, customers, employees, retirees, and company shareholders also donate. The Duke Energy Foundation matches those gifts, up to $500,000 each year.
Local agencies receive all of the money and use it to serve customers in Duke Energy Florida’s 35-county area. The press release said these agencies got nearly $650,000 from the fund in 2025. They have received more than $436,000 from January through August of 2026.
Partners Speak on the Fund’s Impact
Heide Cornell, executive director of Daystar Life, said in the press release that the support has helped families in Pinellas County keep food and medicine cold and their homes cool. She said it “does more than keep the lights on” because it can stop a short-term setback from turning into a bigger crisis.
Jeff Hayward, president and CEO of Heart of Florida United Way, pointed to working families known as ALICE, which stands for “Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed.” He said in the press release that a surprise medical bill, a natural disaster, or higher monthly costs can quickly cause serious money problems for these families. Share the Light, he said, gives them “somewhere to turn.”
Customers who want to learn more, including who qualifies and which agencies serve each county, can visit duke-energy.com/ShareTheLight.
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