Virginia Natural Gas celebrates 175 years with foundation grant to Peake Childhood Center
First of three $175,000 gifts to impactful organizations in Hampton Roads
VIRGINIA BEACH, VA – July 7, 2025 – Virginia Natural Gas is proud to announce the first of several community gifts in celebration of its 175th anniversary. As part of this milestone, the Virginia Natural Gas Foundation is donating $175,000 to Peake Childhood Center (PCC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring children are ready for kindergarten regardless of socioeconomic status. By supporting local organizations like PCC, the company aims to make a lasting impact on communities where it is privileged to serve.
Shannon O. Pierce, president and CEO of Virginia Natural Gas, shared, "As we celebrate our 175th anniversary, we are more committed than ever to being a vital part of the communities we serve. Peake’s motto, 'growing promising futures,' resonates deeply with us, addressing the needs of entire families, not just children. Workforce development transcends mere job creation; it’s about understanding and meeting the broader needs of our families and communities. By partnering with organizations like Peake, we amplify our impact and drive meaningful change. We are fueling the future, together."
PCC provides affordable, quality preschool programs that develop the whole child socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually through planned group activities and a structured curriculum. The center welcomes all children and families, particularly those who are socially and economically disadvantaged, offering a sliding scale tuition to make education accessible. PCC also emphasizes parent involvement and community partnerships to enhance children's development and school readiness.
“With 40% of children in Virginia lacking the skills needed for success in school, it is imperative that children have access to high-quality child care programs. In Virginia, the average annual cost of infant care is $18,759 and preschool annually costs $14,560, making it unaffordable for many working families. Peake’s high-quality, affordable programs ensure children are school-ready and their parents can enter and stay in the workforce. Programs like Peake’s help children, help families and, ultimately, help our community’s economy to thrive,” said Jennifer B. Parish, Ed.D., executive director of Peake Childhood Center.
This gift from the Virginia Natural Gas Foundation will empower PCC to continue its mission to provide equitable opportunities for children and families, a cornerstone of the company’s holistic efforts in supporting workforce development in the region.
For more information about Virginia Natural Gas and its community initiatives, please visit virginianaturalgas.com
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About Virginia Natural Gas
Virginia Natural Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies under Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Serving over 314,000 customers in southeast Virginia, Virginia Natural Gas was again named a Top Workplace in 2024. The company has earned recognition for its safety, reliability and customer focus among natural gas service providers, and was named 2024 LDC of the Year by the VA Dept of Energy and VA Oil & Gas Association. For more information, visit virginianaturalgas.com and connect with the company on Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.
About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE: SO), one of America’s premier energy companies. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.4 million natural gas utility customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states and more than 600,000 retail customers through its natural gas marketing businesses. The company also owns and operates storage facilities within its regulated market and invests in interstate pipelines. Southern Company Gas established the Southern Company Gas Charitable Foundation Inc., a Georgia nonprofit corporation operating in Virginia as the Virginia Natural Gas Foundation. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com
Media Contact:
Morgan Chase
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