HAMMOND, Ind., 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." Two food banks in Illinois and two in Indiana will receive a total of $30,000: the Central Illinois Foodbank of Springfield, $10,000; the Foodbank of Northwestern Indiana in Gary, $10,000; Hegewisch Community Committee of Chicago, $5,000; and the Community Action Program of Western Indiana in Oxford, $5,000. Dominion is the owner and operator of Kincaid Power Station in Kincaid, Ill., and the State Line Power Station in Hammond, Ind. The company is also a partner in the Fowler Ridge Wind Farm in Benton County, Ind., and the developer of the Prairie Fork Wind Farm in Christian and Montgomery counties, Ill. Dominion Retail also supplies natural gas and electricity to customers in Illinois. "We are extremely appreciative for the gift from the Dominion Foundation," said Pam Molitoris, executive director of the Central Illinois Foodbank. "We have seen a much greater need this year and this gift comes to us at a very critical time. We also greatly appreciate the partnership that we have established with Dominion and its employees from the Kincaid facility." 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/. DATASOURCE: Dominion Foundation CONTACT: Dan Genest, Dominion, +1-804-771-6115, Web site: http://www.dom.com/

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