For immediate release

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE	CONTACT: Dorothy Ready Children’s Science Center 703-963-6699 [e-mail] Vicki Bendure 540-687-3360 o 202-374-9259 c [e-mail]

Dominion Foundation Sponsors Experiment Bar Gallery at

Children’s Science Center Lab
FAIRFAX, Va., Aug. 5, 2015—Nene Spivy, executive director of the Children’s Science Center, announced today that the Dominion Foundation has awarded a $100,000 sponsorship to underwrite the Experiment Bar Gallery at the Children’s Science Center Lab located at Fair Oaks Mall. This gift is in addition to their previous $25,000 sponsorship of an exciting hands-on exhibit in the Inspiration Hub Gallery of the Lab devoted to creating wind energy. Dominion has been a generous donor to the Children’s Science Center for the past three years.
One of the main gallery spaces in the Children’s Science Center Lab, the Experiment Bar invites school groups and children with their families to participate in experiments covering a wide range of rotating topics in physics, chemistry, biology, environmental science, electronics, and materials science.
“For several years now, we have been privileged to contribute to the Children’s Science Center’s very successful Museum Without Walls Program – a mobile education program that has reached thousands of school-aged students throughout northern Virginia,” said Carolyn Moss, Dominion’s senior policy advisor for state and local affairs. “This grant to this most worthy and unique educational treasure will continue our wonderful partnership in sponsoring the Center's Experiment Bar, where children can experience the wonders of science through a menu of hands-on experiments.”
The 5,400 sq. ft. Lab at Fair Oaks Mall is the region’s first interactive museum where families and school groups can explore STEM concepts through hands-on exhibits, activities, and programs. The site’s experience zones include: Inspiration Hub, Tinker Shop, Experiment Bar, Discovery Zone and a multipurpose program space called the Garage.
“The Children’s Science Center is grateful to the Dominion Foundation for this significant support and community leadership that has been so instrumental in our efforts to open our first physical museum site this summer at the Lab,” said Spivy. “We appreciate Dominion Foundation’s continuing commitment to STEM education in Northern Virginia, and in particular, for this major gift in support of our vision and mission.”
About the Children’s Science Center:

The Children’s Science Center’s mission is to instill a love of learning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) in all children by providing unique opportunities to explore, create and be inspired.  The Children’s Science Center Lab is located at Fair Oaks Mall and is Northern Virginia’s first interactive museum where children, families and school groups can explore STEM concepts through fun, engaging hands-on exhibits, activities and programs. In addition to the Lab and community programs across the region, the Center is working to fulfill the vision of a full-scale, world-class children’s science museum to be located in Dulles, Va. The Children’s Science Center is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. Learn more at www.childsci.org.

About the Dominion Foundation and Dominion

The Dominion Foundation is dedicated to improving the physical, social and economic well-being of the communities served by Dominion companies. The Foundation supports nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, support education and promote community vitality.

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 24,600 megawatts of generation, 12,400 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,455 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 949 billion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves utility and retail energy customers in 12 states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's website at www.dom.com.
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