Employee Volunteerism

Year round, Washington Gas employees dedicate thousands of volunteer hours through company-sponsored projects that focus on health, education and the environment. From inspiring and preparing students in the District of Columbia to succeed in a global economy through Junior Achievement, to cleaning the shoreline at a historic Maryland waterfront park, to repairing the home of a less fortunate Virginia resident, we are dedicated to strengthening our community.

Some of the volunteer activities undertaken by our employees are featured below:

Audubon Naturalist Nature Fair May 2010; Maryland
Ten volunteers braved the heat and helped set up the Audubon Naturalist Society's by unloading exhibitor vehicles, directing traffic and assisting at various mammal, reptile and birdhouse stations.

Action In Community Through Service - June 2010; Virginia
Twenty-five company volunteers helped Action In Community Through Service (ACTS) with several projects. The volunteers cleaned gutters at ACTS houses, sealed a deck, removed a UHF antenna, mopped a floor and demolished a kitchen at a shelter home.

Anacostia Earth Day Cleanup – April 2010; Maryland

Forty-seven Washington Gas volunteers ven­tured out to Bladensburg Waterfront Park on April 24 to help cleanup trash in observance of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.  Volunteers retrieved at least 12 car and truck tires; two bicycles; one shopping cart; one tricycle; a vehicle carburetor; enough golf balls to start a driving range; one roller blade; two military issue MREs (meals ready to eat); one dead fish and a large pile of plastic bags, bottles and cans, which we separated and sent for recycling. Volunteers definitely left the Ana­costia River a lot cleaner.

Habitat for Humanity - April 2010; Virginia

The work was grungy and tiring, but Wash­ington Gas volunteers ended the long day of April 17 feeling fulfilled. The group joined forces with Habitat for Humanity and future homeowners and gutted the inside of an apart­ment building that will be converted into 12 condominium units.   The volunteers helped to remove drywall, plumbing, cabinetry and electrical wiring and filled up two large construction dumpsters.

Junior Achievement (JA) Activities - March 2010; DC, Maryland and Virginia
The Washington Gas Winter Community Service Team raised more than $40,000 for Junior Achievement and set a fundraising record. A chili cook-off and bake sale, raffle ticket sales, and the ever popular Bowl-A-Thon combined to raise the $40,000. Employees generated $25,000 of the total through corporate vendor and individual sponsorships. Washington Gas donated the remainder. Nearly 130 employees, family members and friends celebrated the success of these efforts at the Bowl-A-Thon on March 20.

In addition to raising money for JA, more than 40 employee volunteers shared their time, knowledge and JA principles with 300 students at Noyes Education Campus in the District of Columbia on March 12. The volunteers taught younger students basic concepts about money and savings and older students about international trade and the global economy. During recess periods, a Washington Gas field operations team performed natural gas safety demonstrations for the students.

Food Drive - Feb. 2010; DC, Maryland and Virginia
Washington Gas employees donated 3,350 pounds of food during Feb¬ruary's drive. For the second year in a row, the Shenandoah office collected the most food, a whopping 2,300 pounds that went to the Blue Ridge Food Bank. Employees in other areas of the company donated 1,050 pounds of food to the Capital Area Food Bank. 

Armed Forces Retirement Home Visit - Jan. 23, 2010; DC

More than 55 Washington Gas volunteers visited with veterans at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in the District. The volunteers shot pool, played ping pong and cards, and bowled with their hosts during the visit.

Employee Giving Campaign - Oct. 22 - Nov. 30, 2009; DC, Maryland & Virginia

Employees generously donated $96,500 during the Employee Giving Campaign.  More than 200 charities benefited from the donations. The Washington Area Fuel Fund, CureSearch and Make-A-Wish Foundation were the top three charities that employees supported this year.

Toys for Tots Toy Drive - Nov. 30 - Dec. 11, 2009; DC, Maryland & Virginia
This year's toy drive was one of the most successful ever.  Washington Gas provided Toys for Tots with more than 900 toys to help make sure children across the metropolitan region have a happier holiday season.

Children's Services of Virginia, Inc. Toy Drive - Dec. 3 - 17, 2009; Virginia
This year's toy drive was hugely successful.  They donated 170 toys, gift cards and clothing items to the Children's Services of Virginia, Inc.

Project Weatherization - Nov. 7, 2009; DC
Seniors throughout two D.C. wards can look forward to cozier evenings at home this winter thanks to the efforts of Washington Gas volunteers. Working with staff from Barney Neighborhood House, 53 volunteers weatherized 47 homes in District wards 1 and 4 on Nov. 7. The volunteers sealed drafty windows, placed weather stripping around doors, insulated electrical outlets, re-caulked bathrooms and installed low-flow showerheads and bathroom and kitchen faucets to help conserve water. D.C. Ward Four Councilmember Muriel Bowser joined Washington Gas volunteers to show her support of Project Weatherization and help install weatherstripping at one of the residences. Homeowners also received safety and energy tips, and energy efficient bulbs and night lights. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters - Local 96 purchased all of the project's weatherization materials.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night - Oct. 17, 2009; DC
A dedicated group of 40 walkers and fundraisers braved heavy rain for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Light The Night walk in the District. Washington Gas volunteers hosted a record nine events for Light The Night that raised $22,000. With the corporate sponsorship of $10,000 and individual fundraising of $13,400, Washington Gas raised a grand total of $48,400 to help the fight against blood-related forms of cancer.

Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Golf Tournament – Aug. 31, 2009; DC, Maryland and Virginia

More than 120 Washington Gas employees, retirees, friends and company vendors came out on Aug. 31 to support the First Annual Light the Night Golf Tournament to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Volunteers raised $14,300 to help find a cure for blood cancers.

9/11 Day of Service – Sept. 11, 2009; DC

High winds and heavy rain did not stop Washington Gas’s 20 volunteers from performing their National Day of Service duties at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial on Sept. 11. The volunteers raked leaves and pulled weeds throughout the memorial, located on the western edge of the Tidal Basin.

Simon Elementary School Supplies Drive – Aug. 2009; DC

Washington Gas employees donated money and held fundraisers to benefit Simon Elementary School in the District of Columbia.  As a result of the fundraising, volunteers delivered 3,100 school supplies and more than 250 books to more than 400 children at Simon Elementary in the District of Columbia. Each student also received a Weekly Reader subscription,and instructional materials were donated for teachers.

YMCA Thingamajig – July 30, 2009; Maryland

Throngs of energetic children converged on the Equestrian Center in Upper Marlboro, Md., on July 30 to participate in the 15th Annual Thingamajig Invention Convention.  More than 75 volunteers witnessed first-hand the creativity of local youth.  Employees served as activity leaders and judges at the Invention Convention, which hosted more than 3,000 area children.

American Red Cross Blood Drives - 2009; Virginia and Washington, DC
Washington Gas has been hosting American Red Cross drives at various company locations for numerous decades. In 2009, Washington Gas held 9 drives across two different company locations. Over the course of the year, 275 life-saving pints of blood were donated and collected.