SunTrust, Dominion employees give more than $2 million to United Way

SunTrust, Dominion workers give $2 million to United Way

SunTrust Bank and Dominion employees donated more than $2 million to the United Way of Greater Richmond & Petersburg 2008 campaign.

SunTrust Bank employees generated more than $1 million in support for the fifth consecutive year.

"At SunTrust, our philosophy has always been, 'Build your community and you build your bank,'" said Gail Letts, president and CEO of SunTrust Bank, central Virginia.

"To that end, we contribute our time and our own financial resources to help support the well-being of our neighbors. Our employees are dedicated to the central Virginia region. It is thanks to their fundraising and personal donations that we were able to raise more than $1,000,000 for the United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg during our latest campaign. We are united with this community."

For the first time, Dominion employees and retirees also raised more than $1 million. Dominion's campaign included a new strategic tool -- a video with Dominion associates giving testimonials about the services they received from United Way partner organizations.

"Every year, our employees and retirees respond to the needs of their communities by consistently supporting United Way," said Shannon Venable, Dominion vice president of integrated resource planning and executive sponsor of the 2008 campaign.

"Giving to United Way is part of who we are and what we do. And in a difficult year when even more was needed, we are very proud of how we increased our level of support."

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The Williamsburg Community Health Foundation will award grants totaling more than $1 million to eight area nonprofit organizations this month.

The foundation's funding is part of an estimated $3 million in new grants to be awarded this year to improve access to quality health-care service and promote healthy living.

The foundation's mission includes improving the health of residents in the greater Williamsburg area.

Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools will receive $870,096 to continue the School Health Initiative Program, which promotes healthy eating and lifestyle habits.

Other health-related nonprofit organizations and local governments that received grants are:

The Better Housing Coalition will recognize individuals for leadership that has strengthened Richmond families and communities.

"The four people we will honor at our 20th anniversary celebration on April 2 are among the leaders of the leaders in our community," said T.K. Somanath, president and CEO, Better Housing Coalition.

"BHC salutes and honors leaders such as these because we could not be effective without them. We thank these individuals who have shared their passions and talents to create an improved quality of life for many Richmond families, and we pledge our best efforts to live up to their example."

The recipients are:

To learn more, visit http://www.betterhousingcoalition.org/20.

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First Things First of Greater Richmond received a $25,000 grant from the National Fatherhood Initiative.

The grant was among 25 awarded nationally through the National Responsible Fatherhood Capacity Building Initiative.

It will allow the nonprofit organization, which works to strengthen families, to develop fatherhood programming and improve its financial sustainability.

The grant also will provide other resources, including Web-based seminars, a conference and a weeklong program on leadership development, programming trends and community connections.

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Anne Parker of Midlothian, a mother of four, will compete for $2,500 during the Ukrop's Monument Avenue 10K next Saturday.

Parker, selected as the AT&T Dash for the Cash contestant, was chosen at random from more than 28,000 people who registered for the 10K.

A "neighborhood runner" for four years, Parker will get a head start when the race begins at 8:30 a.m. To win the cash prize, she'll have to outrun everyone to the finish line. Her past performances during the 10K and her predicted time this year will determine her leeway.

This is the fifth year of the AT&T Dash for the Cash Contest. Two contestants and two elite athletes won the prize during four previous races.

Contact Robin Farmer at (804) 649-6312 or .