The Click here for a press release on the donation and event.
On Tuesday, May 17 2011, Dominion volunteers helped Leesylvania State Park construct a fitness trail with 20 exercise stations along an existing trail. Additionally, volunteers capped old steps with timbers, installed a new piece of playground equipment (the X-Wave), squared off and enclosed the volleyball court with timbers and sand and refurbished several picnic areas with gravel picnic pads. Approximately 70+ volunteers were in attendance and committed to finishing the projects by the end of the day, rain or shine. Fortunately, the weather was perfect for outdoor activity and the projects were completed before 4 pm.
The organization also presented an oversized check for $150,000 to Leesylvania in honor of Virginia State Park’s 75th Anniversary Celebration.
Dominion employee volunteers enjoyed breakfast and a catered BBQ lunch while members of Dominion’s executive team includingVP of Distribution Operations Rodney Blevins, State Parks District Manager Jeff Foster, Virginia Association of Parks (VAFP) member and former Leesylvania Park Manager Jim Klakowicz, as well as local Prince William County Delegates Luke Torian (52nd District) and Richard Anderson (51st District) gave speeches. The volunteers were commended for all their hard work and dedication to the state park system, as well as their dedication to the environment. As Mr. Foster shook the hands of volunteers, he personally thanked each individual while distributing Certificates of Recognition and 75th Anniversary pins.
“We have a very simple strategy in our profession, and we understand what customers expect: They want us to keep the lights on when they go out, they expect us to keep up with the growing demand for electricity in the commonwealth so more business can come and prosper, and they expect us to reinvest in the communities we serve,” said Dominion Vice President of Distribution Operations Rodney Blevins. “We’re a big company, and we’re a corporate citizen so volunteering is what we do.”
As a volunteer and representative of the VAFP, Mr. Klakowicz explained the importance of the partnership Dominion has with the VAFP, a nonprofit umbrella organization for various groups, friends and volunteers supporting Virginia State Parks. He also thanked the volunteers for the 20 year partnership and a commitment that goes back to the time he was the park manager at Leesylvania. It was an emotional, yet an exciting day as Klakowicz noted there were volunteers and friends he recognized from his years as park manager that continue to volunteer to this very day. Leesylvania staff surprised Dominion volunteers with a Birthday cake for one of the volunteers and a thank you cake as a small gesture of appreciation.
“I think it’s significant that this historic grant and volunteer support come as we celebrate this milestone in state park history,” said Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation State Parks Director Joe Elton. “Our volunteers, including Dominion volunteers, contributed more than 255,000 volunteer hours in 2010, equaling more than $5 million in staff time.”
Enjoy this slide show of pictures from the volunteer day!
For more information about Virginia State Parks, visit our website.
For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website.