December 22, 2008

RICHMOND, Va. – The Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion Resources, one of the nation’s largest energy producers, announced today it is donating more than $1 million to food banks in the communities in which it operates.

"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 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."

The grant is being distributed to food banks as follows:

• $555,000 in Virginia and North Carolina;
• $250,000 in Ohio;
• $70,000 in Pennsylvania;
• $70,000 in West Virginia;
• $70,000 in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New York;
• $50,000 in Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana;
• $20,000 in Maryland, and
• $20,000 in Texas.

Dominion also expanded its support for EnergyShare with an additional $5 million contribution in May. EnergyShare has donated more than $31 million to families in need during its 26-year history and is supported by donations from Dominion and its customers, employees and EnergyShare partners, including businesses, churches and civic organizations.

EnergyShare has helped more than 150,000 families in Virginia. The hugely successful program has been providing funds to help people in need pay any type of home heating bill since 1983. In June 2008, EnergyShare became a year-round program when it began paying summer electricity bills for those in need.

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, work force 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. Dominion serves retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at http://www.dom.com.

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Editors: Video and audio clips are available for download at: http://www.dom.com/news/media_downloads.jsp

Available for download is B-roll video featuring Dominion volunteers assisting at the food bank, and audio clips featuring William C. Hall Jr., president of the Dominion Foundation, and Attorney General Bob McDonnell.

Video interviews also are available of Tom Farrell, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Dominion, and George Braley, Senior Vice President - Government Relations & Public Policy, Feeding America.