As a company, Duke Energy puts a premium on community involvement, not only through its corporate sponsorships, but by promoting volunteerism among its employees. For the past three years Duke Energy has exercised this value system and helped grow the RGI River Run, KFK's second largest fundraiser, into one of the areas top ten run/walks! For this reason, Duke Energy is this edition’s Sponsor Spotlight.

During the months of May and June, Duke Energy has a number of Global Service Events throughout Ohio, Northern Kentucky and Indiana, as well as North and South Carolina. The events vary from helping local schools to cleaning up blight in areas. Tony Oney, the Business Manager of Duke Energy's East Bend Station in 2006, steered the company towards supporting KFK and the RGI River Run for a Global Service Event. Tony Oney and Doug Pelfrey attended church together, and it was there that Tony learned more about KFK and the 5K run/walk.

For the past two years, Duke Energy has served as the event's presenting sponsor while also recruiting volunteers for the water stop at the event. While Tony is now the Commercial Analytics Manager, East Bend's Station's new Manager, Brian Weisker, has volunteered at the run for the past three years. "It is very important to us as a public utility to give back to our communities," Brian said, "It is a core value for Duke Energy as a corporation." As Brian further explained, Duke Energy employees that serve as volunteers truly get something in return. "To me the most touching part of the entire event is the Special K," said Brian, "You have kids with special needs kicking off the 5K run/walk, and it is hard not to have a tear in your eye."

Kicks For Kids thanks Duke Energy and its amazing employees for their continued support!