RICHMOND, Va., April 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Thirty years of growth, goodwill and giving to neighbors will be celebrated this month as Dominion marks the anniversary of its corporate volunteer program. The company will pay special tribute to 30 current individual or group volunteer initiatives during its 30^th Anniversary Volunteer of the Year Celebration.

"Over the span of three decades, Dominion volunteers have established an extraordinary legacy of helping those in need – working one-on-one or in teams to brighten the lives of schoolchildren, the elderly and the poor," said Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "In some cases, projects that were intended to last one day have endured for well over a decade – and are still going strong."

Hailing from Connecticut, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia, the 2013 Volunteers of the Year will be recognized at awards ceremonies in Richmond, Va., Akron, Ohio, Lusby, Md., and Waterford, Conn. 

These Dominion volunteers dedicate their time and skills to an array of charitable activities -- from mentoring children to serving meals for seniors, from refurbishing abandoned cemeteries to teaching military veterans how to fly-fish. A wide range of nonprofit organizations has benefited, including those working to revitalize communities, meet human needs, promote education and improve the environment.

Among this year's winners are seven honorees selected for lifetime achievement awards:

• Jeff Angeletti, Dominion East Ohio, Canton, Ohio, has spent nearly two decades helping to renovate and rebuild houses for low-income, elderly, veteran and physically-challenged homeowners. What started for Angeletti as a handful of "Christmas in April" home renovations in 1996 has grown into a board chairmanship role with the Akron "Rebuilding Together" chapter, which serves more than 300 homeowners a year.
• Lola Ausby, Dominion North Carolina Power, Roanoke Rapids, N.C., has spent decades as a volunteer working to better her community of Garysburg, N.C. Ausby has served as a Garysburg town commissioner every year but one since 1984, declining to accept the stipend that accompanies the position. She also serves as mayor pro-tem, finance officer and budget officer. In her spare time, Ausby has served 35 years as a firefighter and secretary with her local fire department, and is active with her church as well.  
• Joann Ball, Dominion North Carolina Power, Kitty Hawk, N.C., has served as the point person for local Dominion volunteer projects for more than 30 years. Whether she's organizing a fundraiser for March of Dimes, purchasing Christmas gifts for needy children or rallying employees to repair the storm-damaged home of a coworker, Ball is the 'go-to' volunteer to get things done in Kitty Hawk.
• Bob Doniel, Dominion Virginia Power, Fredericksburg, Va., excels in organizing volunteer projects that have left a positive mark in Virginia. Doniel coordinates a massive effort to lay wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery each year. He also spearheaded an employee/Boy Scout contingent to eradicate invasive tree species at Mason Neck State Park in Lorton, and is a project leader for Dominion's annual "Putting Our Energy to Work for the Environment" program.
• Elsie Harris, Dominion Virginia Power, Virginia Beach, Va., lives out her commitment of cheerful service in her community each day. From donating and collecting school supplies and clothing, to visiting nursing home residents, to planning a major landscaping project at a local school, Harris is there to help when needed. Harris also is a strong youth mentor who has opened her doors and sheltered many young people who are homeless or abused.
• Phyllis Hinterer, Dominion Energy, Weston, W.Va., is passing on her love for the fun learning and leadership experiences of the 4-H club. Hinterer contributes thousands of hours as a 4-H leader, using 200 hours of vacation time each year to volunteer at the West Virginia State Livestock Roundup. She has earned 4-H All Star recognition for her service to the organization and the young people it serves.    
• Melinda Whitehead, Dominion East Ohio, Akron, Ohio, was inspired by her father to give the gift of time to people in need. She has been involved with projects to renovate a resident for formerly homeless veterans, to landscape parts of Cuyahoga Valley National Park, distribute backpacks with school supplies to needy students, and more. She also coaches an inner-city girls' soccer team and works with Boys and Girls Clubs.

In 2013, Dominion and Dominion's charitable foundation and employees invested nearly $20 million and 100,000 volunteer hours in programs that help improve the quality of life for people in the communities where they work and live. 

Dominion, headquartered in Richmond, is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy. The Dominion Foundation is dedicated to improving the physical, social and economic well-being of the communities served by Dominion companies. Dominion and the Foundation support nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, promote education and encourage community vitality. For more information about Dominion and the Dominion Foundation, visit www.dom.com. 

Note to Editors: For photographs of the winners, please visit https://www.dom.com/about/media-downloads.jsp. To learn more about the winning volunteer projects, go to https://www.dom.com/about/community/pdf/VoloftheYear-2014.pdf?WT.mc_id=corpfeat1. To learn more about Dominion's volunteer programs, go to http://www.dom.com/about/community/volunteering-in-the-community.jsp.

SOURCE Dominion