Virginia Natural Gas Shows Commitment to the Community by Fueling Future Generations

The health and well-being of Coastal Virginia’s youth is vital to ensuring the future success and longevity of our community. Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) recently showed our commitment to fueling future generations by gifting new running shoes to students at an area elementary school through the Starting Strides program. We also collaborated with Operation Warm to donate coats to local children.

This is the 2nd year we have sponsored Starting Strides, a J&A Racing Foundation program dedicated to bringing running to Coastal Virginia’s youth. Through this initiative, we help fund scholarships to “schools with economically disadvantaged communities to eliminate barriers” with a focus on helping students run the Operation Smile Shamrock Final Mile during the annual Shamrock Marathon weekend. The scholarship supports up to 50 students at each school and includes: running shoes and a shoe fitting, entry into the Operation Smile Shamrock Final Mile, a race day shirt and transportation to and from the final mile event. Shoes were delievered to students who are part of the Run Club at Newton Elementary School during a special event attended by VNG President and CEO Robert Duvall as well as staff from J&A Racing.

In addition, we donated over 250 coats to Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia through Operation Warm, an organization dedicated to providing physical and emotional warmth to children – “offering the opportunity to socialize and succeed, and hope for a brighter future.” Some of these coats were presented to children at Truitt Club in South Norfolk by VNG leaders and other staff members. The remaining coats will be distributed to kids in need at all Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia locations throughout the rest of the year. This is our third year partnering with Operation Warm to provide coats to local children.