Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation Awards Grant to Earth Force

Earth Force, a nonprofit organization that challenges students to develop innovative solutions to today’s environmental problems recently received a $5,000 environmental stewardship grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation. Funds will be allocated to support the “Caring for Our Watersheds” program and competition that will engage about 1,500 middle school students in Northern Virginia during the 2017-2018 academic year.

According to Vince Meldrum, President & CEO of Earth Force’s operation located in the Arlington area of Northern Virginia, the students work in teams to design and implement projects that will impact the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed region. “Rachel Carson Middle School in Fairfax County, the winner for the 2016-2017 academic year, wanted to reduce food waste and litter that often end up in the area’s waterways,” he said. “They launched a partnership with a local residential shelter to pick up extra food from the school, resulting in a $1,000 prize to the school for this creative program.” Other noteworthy projects in the contest involved decreasing plastic bags and planting native grasses in wetlands, just to name a few.

“The generous funding support from companies like Agrium and Dominion Energy, among others, enables Earth Force to offer professional development opportunities for educators at the beginning of the school year,” added Meldrum. “These training sessions provide educators with the skills and knowledge to guide students in designing and executing an effective action project to enter into the contest. The teams will always remember the experience of collaborating on a project to preserve and protect the Chesapeake Bay’s watershed region.” For more information, visit www.earthforce.org.

In April 2017, the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation awarded $1.2 million through a competitive grant process to more than 100 schools, organizations and communities in 10 states served by Dominion Energy. The grants support environmental education and stewardship projects that preserve, enhance or make nature more accessible. Since 2003, Dominion Energy has donated nearly $30 million to a wide variety of environmental projects across its footprint. For more information, visit www.dominionenergy.com.

CAPTION:
Students from Fairfax County’s Rachel Carson Middle School, the winning team in the Earth Force 2016-17 environment competition, hold the $5,000 financial gift that the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation awarded to support Earth Force's 2017-18 competition. Vince Meldrum (far left), President & CEO of Earth Force, poses with Hayley Snowden (second from left), a representative from Dominion Energy's Media Relations team, and the students' teacher (far right).