SOMERSET, Mass., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- 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." Three Fall River food banks will each receive a $3,500 grant. They are the Fall River Community Soup Kitchen, the Greater Fall River Food Pantry, and the Sacred Heart Soup Kitchen. Dominion is the owner and operator of Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset. Dominion Retail also supplies electricity to customers in Massachusetts. The total contribution from the Dominion Foundation will provide 21.4 million pounds of food and grocery products for food banks within the 14 states where Dominion operates, according to Feeding America, formerly America's Second Harvest, the nation's leading hunger-relief charity. "With this donation, Dominion demonstrates remarkable compassion," said Vicki B. Escarra, president and chief executive officer of Feeding America. "This act of generosity is truly a holiday gift for low-income people facing hunger in the United States. On behalf of our member food banks and all other food banks sharing this gift, we thank Dominion." This year, Dominion, its charitable foundation and its employees will invest more than $20 million and 100,000 volunteer hours in programs that help make life brighter 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: Lisa Lundy-Kusinitz, Dominion, +1-508-646-5293, Web site: http://www.dom.com/

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