Employee Volunteerism

Year round, Washington Gas employees dedicate thousands of volunteer hours through company-sponsored projects that focus on health, education and the environment. From inspiring and preparing students in the District of Columbia to succeed in a global economy through Junior Achievement, to cleaning the shoreline at a historic Maryland waterfront park, to repairing the home of a less fortunate Virginia resident, we are dedicated to strengthening our community.

Some of the volunteer activities undertaken by our employees are featured below:

Employee Giving Campaign - Oct. 22 - Nov. 30, 2009; DC, Maryland & Virginia

Employees generously donated $96,500 during the Employee Giving Campaign.  More than 200 charities benefited from the donations. The Washington Area Fuel Fund, CureSearch and Make-A-Wish Foundation were the top three charities that employees supported this year.

Toys for Tots Toy Drive - Nov. 30 - Dec. 11, 2009; DC, Maryland & Virginia
This year's toy drive was one of the most successful ever.  Washington Gas provided Toys for Tots with more than 900 toys to help make sure children across the metropolitan region have a happier holiday season.

Children's Services of Virginia, Inc. Toy Drive - Dec. 3 - 17, 2009; Virginia
This year's toy drive was hugely successful.  They donated 170 toys, gift cards and clothing items to the Children's Services of Virginia, Inc.

Project Weatherization - Nov. 7, 2009; DC
Seniors throughout two D.C. wards can look forward to cozier evenings at home this winter thanks to the efforts of Washington Gas volunteers. Working with staff from Barney Neighborhood House, 53 volunteers weatherized 47 homes in District wards 1 and 4 on Nov. 7. The volunteers sealed drafty windows, placed weather stripping around doors, insulated electrical outlets, re-caulked bathrooms and installed low-flow showerheads and bathroom and kitchen faucets to help conserve water. D.C. Ward Four Councilmember Muriel Bowser joined Washington Gas volunteers to show her support of Project Weatherization and help install weatherstripping at one of the residences. Homeowners also received safety and energy tips, and energy efficient bulbs and night lights. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters - Local 96 purchased all of the project's weatherization materials.

VolunteerFest Day of Service - Oct. 24, 2009; Virginia

Thirty-two Washington Gas volunteers joined hundreds of other volunteers throughout Fairfax County on Oct. 24 during the 15th Annual VolunteerFest Day of Service. Volunteers worked with Earth Sangha at Meadowood Farms in Lorton, Va., to help till almost an acre of land and plant a variety of sumac, oak and hickory seeds and native grass. The project's goal was to create a pasture that will attract native wildlife and help decrease rain and soil run-off.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night - Oct. 17, 2009; DC
A dedicated group of 40 walkers and fundraisers braved heavy rain for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night walk in the District. Washington Gas volunteers hosted a record nine events for Light The Night that raised $22,000. With the corporate sponsorship of $10,000 and individual fundraising of $13,400, Washington Gas raised a grand total of $48,400 to help the fight against blood-related forms of cancer.

International Children’s Festival – Sept. 19-20, 2009; Virginia

Twenty six volunteers coordinated this year’s 39th Annual International Children’s Festival over two days at Wolf Trap National Farm Park in Vienna, Va.. The festival featured children’s performing groups from Georgia, Serbia and Spain along with more than 100 other local, regional and national performing groups.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Golf Tournament – Aug. 31, 2009; DC, Maryland and Virginia

More than 120 Washington Gas employees, retirees, friends and company vendors came out on Aug. 31 to support the First Annual Light the Night Golf Tournament to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Volunteers raised $14,300 to help find a cure for blood cancers.

9/11 Day of Service – Sept. 11, 2009; DC

High winds and heavy rain did not stop Washington Gas’s 20 volunteers from performing their National Day of Service duties at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial on Sept. 11. The volunteers raked leaves and pulled weeds throughout the memorial, located on the western edge of the Tidal Basin.

Habitat for Humanity – Aug. 22, 2009; Virginia

More than 35 Washington Gas volunteers worked with Habitat for Humanity to help build three homes in Stevens City, Va. on Aug. 22. The team hung drywall in one of the homes and, in another home, framed the first floor and most of the second floor.

Boys and Girls’ Club of Greater Washington – Aug. 1, 2009; DC

Community service team volunteers landscaped a Boys and Girls Club in Northeast, D.C. The team came out with more than 20 volunteers and gave a facelift to the clubhouse located on Benning Road, N.E. The volunteers removed dead shrubbery, tilled the soil, mulched, landscaped and revamped the clubhouse entrance.

Simon Elementary School Supplies Drive – Aug. 2009; DC

Washington Gas employees donated money and held fundraisers to benefit Simon Elementary School in the District of Columbia.  As a result of the fundraising, volunteers delivered 3,100 school supplies and more than 250 books to more than 400 children at Simon Elementary in the District of Columbia. Each student also received a Weekly Reader subscription,and instructional materials were donated for teachers.

Clothing Drive – July 2009; DC, Maryland and Virginia

Many disadvantaged men and women will be better dressed for job interviews this summer and fall thanks to employees who donated more than 1900 suits, pants, sport coats, shirts and accessories during the clothing drive. The clothing was distributed through Dress for Success, MenzFit, Northern Virginia Family Services and Blue Ridge Hospice.

Armed Forces Retirement Home – July 24, 2009; DC

More than 30 volunteers brightened the evening for residents at the Armed Forces Retirement Home on July 24. Washington Gas hosted Casino Night for the second year for more than 100 residents who competed for prizes while playing Texas Hold ’Em, roulette and the money wheel.

YMCA Thingamajig – July 30, 2009; Maryland

Throngs of energetic children converged on the Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Md., on July 30 to participate in the 15th Annual Thingamajig Invention Convention.  More than 75 volunteers witnessed first-hand the creativity of local youth.  Employees served as activity leaders and judges at the Invention Convention, which hosted more than 3,000 area children.

Shepherd’s Table – June 26, 2009; Maryland

Nineteen Washington Gas volunteers made sure a large, local group of low-income and homeless people ended the week with smiles. The company donated money to pay for dinners at the Shepherd’s Table on Friday, June 26, and team members served as waiters and waitresses to the 106 guests.

Gleaning Network - June 13, 2009; Maryland

Thirty-seven volunteers labored at Miller Farms in Clinton, Md., harvesting collard greens and kale on June 13. The volunteers picked more than 4,000 pounds of produce. A network of agencies and community organizations distributed the produce to help feed the hungry in this region.

National Wildlife Federation Schoolyard Habitat – May 14, 2009; Virginia

In conjunction with the National Wildlife Federation, twelve Washington Gas volunteers helped Centreville Elementary School create a schoolyard habitat on May 14. The habitat is designed to attract birds, butterflies and other harmless wildlife.

Anacostia Watershed Society: April 18, 2009; Maryland
Washington Gas volunteers helped with the Anacostia Watershed Society's Earth Day Clean-Up and Celebration on April 18. The clean-up took place at nearly 30 sites along the Anacostia Watershed in the District and Maryland. Thirty-five Washington Gas volunteers joined forces with 200 other volunteers at Bladensburg Waterfront Park and helped to remove three tons of trash, four shopping carts and 56 tires from that location. Their efforts, along with that of 1,900 other event volunteers, removed 59 tons of trash, 10,700 plastic bags and 289 tires from along the Anacostia. Washington Gas was a $5,000 co-sponsor of the event. The day concluded with a volunteer appreciation celebration with food, entertainment and educational exhibit booths. Recyclable tote bags were distributed to attendees to discourage future use of plastic products that often find their way back to the river when not discarded properly.

Junior Achievement (JA) Activities - March, 2009; DC, Maryland & Virginia

The Washington Gas Winter Community Service Team raised more than $36,000 for Junior Achievement and set a fundraising record. A chili cook-off and bake sale, raffle ticket sales, and the ever popular Bowl-A-Thon combined to raise the $36,000. Employees generated $21,510 of the total through corporate vendor and individual sponsorships. Washington Gas donated the remainder. Nearly 100 employees, family members and friends celebrated the success of these efforts at the Bowl-A-Thon on March 28.

In addition to raising money for JA, more than 55 employee volunteers shared their time, knowledge and JA principles with 510 students at Pine Spring Elementary School in Falls Church, Va., on March 27. The volunteers taught younger students basic concepts about money and savings and older students about international trade and the global economy. During recess periods, a Washington Gas field operations team performed natural gas safety demonstrations for the students.

American Red Cross Blood Drives - 2009; Virginia and Washington, DC
Washington Gas has been hosting American Red Cross drives at various company locations for numerous decades. In 2009, Washington Gas held 9 drives across two different company locations. Over the course of the year, 275 life-saving pints of blood were donated and collected.