- Free health clinics facing crisis of increasing demand, reduced funding

- Dominion employees have direct hand in helping make donation possible

- Clinic grant follows more than $1 million given to food banks in December

RICHMOND, Va., June 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dominion Resources Inc., parent company of Dominion Virginia Power, announced today it is donating $1 million to free health clinics in Virginia and 13 other states (see list here: http://www.dom.com/news/2009/pdf/free_clinic_list_060209.pdf).

'The current economic times have produced hardships not seen in several generations,' said Thomas F. Farrell II, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Dominion. 'We want to do our part to make sure medical services are available to those who are uninsured or can't afford to see a doctor.

'This is a serious and growing problem in many of the communities we serve and elsewhere,' Farrell continued, 'and we challenge all financially able companies to do what they can to make sure health care is available to those in need.'

Recognizing the growing economic hardships faced by many because of the deep recession, Dominion has refocused its corporate giving on basic human necessities such as food, shelter and health care.

Five months ago, Dominion gave more than $1 million to food banks in 14 states, providing for more than 20 million pounds of food and grocery products. Earlier, the company provided $6 million to EnergyShare, a program it created to help people in need pay heating and cooling bills.

'Dominion's 18,000 employees have a direct hand in making possible this donation to free clinics,' Farrell said. 'Part of the funding is coming from foregoing our Dominion Day employee recreational activities. Our employees know this, and they have been very supportive of redirecting the funds to help neighbors in need.'

Dominion is making the grant through the Dominion Foundation, the company's philanthropic arm. Dominion Foundation grants are funded by shareholder dollars, and the cost of the grants is not borne by customers.