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Rhode Island Food Bank Benefits From Dominion Foundation's More Than $1 Million Donation

Posted on: Monday, 22 December 2008, 10:47 CST

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Local food banks will benefit from a more than $1 million donation announced today by the Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion Resources, one of the nation's largest energy producers.

"Dominion wants to help our neighbors who are encountering hardships during the current economic downturn," said Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Dominion. "This contribution will help put food on the table for families in 14 states during the holiday season."

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank of Providence will receive a grant of $10,000 as part of this donation. Dominion is the owner and operator of Manchester Street Power Station in downtown Providence.

The contribution will provide 21.4 million pounds of food and grocery products, according to Feeding America, formerly America's Second Harvest, the nation's leading hunger-relief charity. Each year, the Feeding America network provides food assistance to more than 25 million low-income people facing hunger in the United States, including more than 9 million children and nearly 3 million seniors.

"The economic conditions in the United States today are placing unprecedented demands on our food banks around the country," said Vicki Escarra, president and chief executive officer of Feeding America. "This generous gift from Dominion will do much to help keep the food flowing in many states. This could not come at a better time and shows the real power of corporate engagement in the causes so vital to our communities."

This year, Dominion, its charitable foundation and its employees will invest more than $20 million and 100,000 volunteer hours in programs that help improve the quality of life for people in the states where Dominion operates power stations, natural gas and other energy facilities.

Grant focus areas included preservation of natural and historic resources, workforce development and education, diversity initiatives, neighborhood and community development, and meeting basic needs for food, shelter and clothing.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,000 megawatts of generation. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at http://www.dom.com.

SOURCE Dominion Foundation

Source: PR Newswire

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