Dominion Energy Gifts Nearly 1800 Museum Memberships to Students

Charleston, SC – Friday, February 7, 2020 – Today, teams from the International African American Museum (IAAM), Dominion Energy, and Charleston Promise Neighborhood (CPN) gathered at the museum’s headquarters to stuff and seal Charter Membership packages. The packages will be sent to nearly 1800 CPN students and their families, thanks to a generous donation from Dominion Energy!

In 2019, Dominion Energy made a $2.5 million donation to support museum construction and exhibits, and expanded that donation to support the local community in the form of Charter Memberships. With their Charter Memberships, students will be granted access to the museum prior to its public opening, explore the museum’s genealogical Center for Family History, and attend community-focused, educational and cultural events with priority registration.

“Dominion Energy is pleased to partner with Charleston Promise Neighborhood to ensure that some residents who have traditionally encountered barriers to educational opportunities will have access to the International African American Museum when its doors open,” said Rodney Blevins, president of Dominion Energy South Carolina. “We recognize the important role the museum will play in telling the full history of our country in such a meaningful and engaging way, and everyone should have the opportunity to experience it.”

“We are proud to partner with Dominion Energy and the International African American Museum to provide these highly sought-after Charter Memberships to residents in our community,” said Sherrie Snipes-Williams, Chief Executive Officer. “Our hope is that this will be the beginning of a long relationship with each of the students and we are excited that they will share in the community’s pride of being a part of building this amazing symbol of strength and endurance that Charleston will cherish for generations to come.”

The International African American Museum will open in late 2021 and will illuminate the African American Journey for its visitors. Comprehensive educational and community outreach programs will provide life-long learning opportunities and will shine light on untold stories of tragedy and triumph. Visitors will also have access to museum exhibits, a preeminent genealogical research center, and an African Ancestors Memorial Garden.

“Education is foundational to the museum,” said Dr. Elijah Heyward, III., the museum’s Chief Operating Officer. “Knowing that more than 1700 students and their families will be receiving membership cards in the mail next week, inspires us all to be sure that the museum experience is exciting, engaging and inspiring.”

About Dominion Energy

Nearly 7.5 million customers in 18 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to sustainable, reliable, affordable and safe energy and is one of the nation’s largest producers and transporters of energy with more than $100 billion of assets providing electric generation, transmission and distribution, as well as natural gas storage, transmission, distribution and import/export services. The company expects to cut generating fleet carbon dioxide emissions 80 percent by 2050 and reduce methane emissions from its gas assets 50 percent by 2030. Please visit www.DominionEnergy.com to learn more.

About Charleston Promise Neighborhood

Charleston Promise Neighborhood (CPN) is a nonprofit organization incorporated in May 2010, whose vision and purpose is to transform the “Neighborhood” within a generation. The CPN Neighborhood, home to just under 27,000 residents—4,300 of whom are children under the age of 18—is a 5.6 square mile area of Charleston County that straddles portions of the cities of Charleston and North Charleston, and coincides with the attendance zones of four CCSD elementary schools with high concentrations of children living in poverty: Chicora, James Simons, Mary Ford and Sanders-Clyde. CPN’s current focus areas include education, healthcare, parenting engagement, and community engagement. For more information, visit www.charlestonpromise.org.

About the International African American Museum

The mission of the International African American Museum is to honor the untold stories of the African American journey at one of our country’s most sacred sites, the former Gadsden’s Wharf. The 40,000 square foot museum is projected to open late 2021.