Duke Energy’s Share the Light Fund Night takes place Saturday, December 18, and Sunday, December 19, during Light the Knights at Truist Field. The event is to raise funds and awareness for those in the community who need assistance paying energy bills.

Light the Knights at Truist Field is a walk-through holiday experience with thousands of lights, trees, and displays. Visitors can also shop for unique gifts from vendors including Christmas ornaments, jewelry, apparel, and Charlotte-focused artwork. Duke Energy’s Share the Light Fund brings together customers and communities to help individuals and families struggling to pay their energy bills. The Duke Energy Foundation matches every dollar donated up to $500,000.

“With winter just around the corner and a global increase in the cost of energy, it’s important that we band together to find ways to help keep all of our neighbors warm,” said Barbara Higgins, chief customer officer, Duke Energy. “Share the Light Fund Night is a special way to enjoy the warmth and cheer of the holiday season while also directly supporting those in our community who may need assistance during the colder months.”

“The Share the Light Fund is a new, integrated program designed to provide increased financial assistance and make it easier for customers to give and get help. And if you’re an individual having difficulty paying your energy bills, please contact us directly to learn more about ways we may be able to support you and your family through these funds,” said Higgins.

Share the Light Fund Night takes place December 18 and 19 from noon-10 p.m. at Truist Field, 324 S. Mint St. Admission is $5 before 5 p.m. and $10 after 5 p.m. The first 1,000 attendees each night will receive an LED wristband. Attendees on December 18 and 19 can “round up” their purchases at concession stands with all proceeds benefiting the Duke Energy Share the Light Fund. The Knights and Duke Energy will match the funds raised.

“The Charlotte Knights are pleased to partner and support the Share the Light Fund with Duke Energy at Truist Field. As we approach the holiday season, we welcome the opportunity to help those in need of assistance with paying their energy bills,” said Dan Rajkowski, chief operating officer of the Charlotte Knights. A Holiday Wonder season pass for Light the Knights with unlimited admission is available for $35 and includes admission to Share the Light Fund Night.

GALLERY: List of Animals Native to North Carolina

As found by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

• American Beaver

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  Castor canadensis, the beaver, played an important role in North Carolina's economy well into the 1800s. Its fur was the most valuable item of trade in the colonies. As a result, the beaver was nearly trapped to extinction in many sections of the United States, including North Carolina.

• Armadillo, Nine-Banded.

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  Only one species of armadillo lives in the southeast, the Nine-banded Armadillo. Native to Central and South America, the Nine-banded Armadillo was first recorded in Texas in 1849, but has since spread north and east, crossing the Mississippi River in the early 1940s, reaching western Tennessee in 1980, and reaching North Carolina in the late 2000's via natural dispersal from adjacent states.

• Black Bear

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  In North Carolina or anywhere else in the eastern United States, the black bear is the only bear species. The successful recovery of the American black bear in North Carolina is one of wildlife management's greatest achievements.
• Bobcat

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  North Carolina has a wide variety of habitats for bobcats, but they are found most commonly in the wooded Coastal Plain and mountains. East North Carolina's bottomlands, young pine stands, swamps, and pocosins are good habitats for bobcats. The mountains are characterized by mature forests with openings or early successional forests nearby. Bobcat dens are common in hollow trees, rock piles, brush piles, root masses of uprooted trees, etc.

• Bats

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  In North Carolina, bats mate either in the spring or fall and usually produce one pup per year. Their young are born alive. During the summer, many species form maternity colonies to raise their young, while others are solitary, roosting and raising young alone.

• Eastern Chipmunk

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  Hawks, owls, foxes, and snakes are among the predators protected by burrows. These small predators rely on eastern ground squirrels for food. During the winter, burrows provide safe quarters since the cold weather induces deep sleep. This "quasi-hibernation" is marked by slow breathing and low body temperature, often lasting for days on end. Winters in North Carolina are more active than those in colder climes.
• Coyote

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  Red wolves look similar to coyotes in North Carolina, but coyotes are smaller, have pointed ears, and long, slender snouts. Usually carried pointed down, the tail is long, bushy, and black-tipped. Dark gray is the most common color, but blonde, red, and black are possible as well. It has a wide range of sizes, but with a maximum height of two feet and a maximum length of four feet.

• White-tailed Deer

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  In North Carolina, no wild animal is more recognizable than the white-tailed deer. Whether a mature buck with magnificent antlers, a graceful doe, or a spotted fawn running with its mother, the white-tailed deer is one of the most popular animals.

• Elk

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  In the past, the Eastern Elk roamed across the eastern United States, including parts of North Carolina. After the arrival of European settlers, however, unregulated hunting and loss of habitat led to rapid population declines through the 1700s. By the year 1800, the Eastern Elk was extirpated from North Carolina and by the mid-1800s, Eastern Elk had almost disappeared throughout their range entirely. The last known wild Eastern Elk was killed in Pennsylvania in 1877.
• Mink

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  Minks are often considered vicious because they are also known as water weasels. Due to its habit of frequently killing prey that is larger than itself, it has earned this reputation. In wetlands, mink live in a variety of semi-aquatic habitats. Historically, the mink’s handsome fur has been highly prized, though the demand for wild fur has dropped in recent years.