Marbles, other Triangle nonprofits that serve children win grants to help them during pandemic

Marbles Kids Museum, the Association for the Preservation of the Eno River Valley, East Durham Children's Initiative and the YMCA of the Triangle are among the local groups who received grants this week from the Duke Energy Foundation.

The foundation on Monday announced $810,000 in grants to support K-12 education programs and nonprofits across the state.

It gave nonprofits the choice to use the money on their programs that focus on summer reading loss and STEM and experiential learning or to address operational challenges during the COVID-19 crisis.

“A private nonprofit, Marbles Kids Museum relies on admission and ticket sales, memberships and events to fund a large portion of our operating budget,” said Sally Edwards, CEO of Marbles Kids Museum, in a press release. “Since COVID-19 forced us to close the museum to the public, we’ve had to reduce staff and delay major projects. This flexible funding from Duke Energy helped us pivot to connect virtually with our community during closure and implement new sustainability practices to ensure we emerge from this crisis viable and ready to spark imagination, discovery and learning through play.”

“As this pandemic spreads in our local communities, the demand for services provided by the nonprofit sector is growing at a rapid pace,” said Jeanne Tedrow, president and CEO of North Carolina Center for Nonprofits, in the press release. “The need for flexible funds from both corporate and private foundations is paramount, and maintaining a safety net is critical not only for today’s response, but for the viability of our communities as we recover and rebuild.”