April 13, 2006

BREMO BLUFF, Va. – Dominion, one of the nation’s largest energy companies, today donated a pre-Revolutionary War mansion and approximately six acres in Fluvanna County, to Elk Hill, a non-profit program for at-risk youth. The building and land are valued at $950,000.

The 1725 estate, known as "Spring Garden," is located on a hill overlooking the James River and adjacent to Dominion’s Bremo Power Station. Elk Hill will renovate the home and use it as the organization’s first residential treatment facility for at-risk young women ages 13-18. The staff will model the program on its successful residential program for young men. Elk Hill will provide both specialized education and life-skills training that will enable the young women to become productive adults.

"Spring Garden," a 1725 estate, was donated by Dominion to Elk Hill, a non-profit program for at-risk youth. [Click on the photo for a printable enlargement.]

Elk Hill currently operates three residential facilities for at-risk young men, two group homes, two alternative day schools and an outreach program.

"This is an especially meaningful donation because the work done here will help turn around the lives of troubled young women," said William C. Hall, Jr., vice president- External Affairs & Corporate Communications, and president of the Dominion Foundation.

Dominion and Elk Hill are jointly hosting an open house today at Spring Garden for local officials and neighbors.

"Our employees at Bremo are looking forward to seeing Spring Garden come alive again," said David A. Heacock, Dominion senior vice president-Fossil & Hydro. "We are truly pleased to have found such a useful purpose for this home."

Dominion purchased Spring Garden in 1976. In the early 1980s the company renovated the structure and used it as a conference site. For the past several years, however, the company’s use of the facility has been minimal.

Spring Garden is rich in history. According to local historical records, Spring Garden was built on land that was granted by King George III of England. Confederate Civil War Gen. Robert E. Lee was said to have visited the home frequently.

"We are grateful for Dominion’s generosity," said M. Bagley Reid, president of the Elk Hill board of trustees. "Support from the business community is essential to the success of our programs."

This donation ranks as one of Dominion’s largest corporate gifts. In 2005 Dominion donated $500,000 to the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation to support the national significance of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. In 2000 Dominion donated a 477-acre tract of land in West Virginia to The Nature Conservancy.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with an energy portfolio of about 28,100 megawatts of generation, about 6.3 trillion cubic feet equivalent of proved natural gas reserves and 7,800 miles of natural gas transmission pipeline. Dominion also operates the nation's largest underground natural gas storage system with more than 950 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves retail energy customers in nine states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.

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