Virginia Natural Gas Foundation Provides Donation to an Ambitious Eco-Conscious Project

Elizabeth River Project receives $75,000 donation for Ryan Resilience Series

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Nov. 8, 2023 – The Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) Foundation donated $75,000 to the Elizabeth River Project, becoming a major sponsor of the Ryan Resilience Series, an ambitious eco-conscious project in the Hampton Roads area. The Elizabeth River Project is a non-profit organization with a 30-year track record that aims to restore the eco-system in the Elizabeth River, an urban river in southeast Virginia. They have made significant progress in rejuvenating life in the Elizabeth River, an impressive feat since the river was long presumed dead. 

But the job isn’t finished yet. Rising tides, among other challenges, threaten the urban river’s newfound life. In response, the VNG Foundation donated $75,000 to support the Elizabeth River Project.

For VNG President and CEO and foundation board member, Robert Duvall, VNG is doing more than just providing monetary resources.

“We stand firmly behind organizations like the Elizabeth River Project, we support their mission and we appreciate all the good work they do,” said Duvall.

“This is not about just providing financial support to an organization with a great cause; this is about pioneering a path forward within our community and doing our part in taking care of our shared eco-system in the Hampton Roads area.” 

The donation is going toward the Ryan Resilience Series, a project organized and executed by the Ryan Resilience Lab, a 6,400 sq. ft., three-story facility located in Norfolk's bustling Colley Avenue. The project was green lit in October 2023.

The Ryan Resilience Series is an ambitious mix of interactive programs aiming to educate the public, especially marginalized communities, in the harbor inner-cities on the importance of preserving the eco-system in the Elizabeth River. 

“The Ryan Resilience Series is taking the proactive steps to address the problems we are see coming up on the horizon. This is a wakeup call to our coastal communities; we are offering strategies combining hope and inspiration with action to combat the rising sea-levels while preserving the Elizabeth River’s ecosystem,” said Marjorie Mayfield Jackson, Executive Director, Elizabeth River Project. 

Some examples of interactive programs that the Ryan Resilience Series will offer include an original symphony by an acclaimed Black composer, Jerome Ellis; a lecture with climate journalist Jeff Goodell, author of the new

book, The Heat Will Kill You First; and a new program, LINK UP, linking youth from marginalized communities with adults of color working in environmental fields.

“This major donation by the Virginia Natural Gas Foundation underscores our dedication to environmental preservation and community well-being. We appreciate the efforts of our thriving environmentally conscious community in the Hampton Roads area, and we are here to support organizations that demonstrate environmental stewardship and educate and motivate people to take care of our community,” said Duvall.