RICHMOND, Va., Sept. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Schools and educational institutions in nine states are beginning the new academic year with Dominion funding for major projects.

Dominion has awarded more than $326,000 in educational grants this year to 68 schools and institutions in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia.

"This year's projects are exceptional and reflect both Dominion's focus on the environment and the future of energy," said William C. Hall Jr., a vice president of Dominion and president of The Dominion Foundation.  "We are privileged to support these efforts and the work of the teachers who educate our youth."

The Dominion Educational Grants Partnership Program helps schools strengthen the mathematics and science skills of students in grades K-12.  The grants are made through The Dominion Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Dominion Resources.

The Foundation awards individual grants of up to $10,000.  The company has awarded nearly $3 million in grants since the program began in 1996.

Grant recipients include:

• Calvert High School, Prince Frederick, Md., was awarded $9,900 to study pollution using Geographic Information Systems and will conduct school-wide energy audits.

• Interdistrict School for Arts and Communication, Inc., New London, Conn., received $10,000 to conduct a year-long scientific investigation and analysis of Long Island Sound.

• Prince William County Public Schools, Va., was awarded $5,000 for energy exploration kits that will enable 6th grade students to conduct energy audits in their school and homes. 

• The Neighborhood Association Center, Cleveland, Ohio, received $10,000 to provide education for urban students through the "Wonderful World of Water" program.  Cleveland's residents and students will learn the importance of protecting this valuable resource and maintaining a high-quality, healthy water supply.    

For more information on Dominion's educational programs, including the Dominion Educational Grants Partnership Program, visit www.dom.com; keyword: "education."

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 27,600 megawatts of generation. Dominion operates the nation's largest natural gas storage system and serves retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com. 

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SOURCE Dominion