Dominion and Wal-Mart to Offer Cooling Assistance
for Virginia-Area Senior Citizens
RICHMOND, Va. – Dominion and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. announced
Tuesday the beginning of the 16th consecutive year of Fan Care, a partnership
with the Virginia Department for the Aging that helps low-income older citizens
in Virginia keep cool during summer months.
More than 22,000 fans have been distributed since the program’s
inception. It provides one free fan to elderly Virginians who live within Dominion’s
service area and who meet eligibility requirements. An estimated 1,200 will
receive fans this summer.
“There are many elderly Virginians who are in poor health
and confined within their homes. The cooling effect of just one fan is enough
to make the hot summer days more bearable,” said Eva S. Hardy, Dominion
senior vice president-External Affairs & Corporate Communications.
Fan Care is a public-private partnership administered by the
Virginia Department for the Aging. Dominion is the primary sponsor. Wal-Mart
is the exclusive retailer providing fans to local Area Agencies on Aging at
a discounted rate. The discount enables more seniors to be served by the program.
Local Area Agencies on Aging administer Fan Care by screening
applicants and distributing fans. A list of participating agencies is available
by contacting the Virginia Department for the Aging at 1-800-552-3402. In addition,
Wal-Mart will be hosting an on-site screening for area seniors at the Richmond
Sheila Lane location on Aug. 5. More details will become available closer to
the event date.
“Wal-Mart is delighted to participate in this important
program to help elderly citizens cool their homes with fans during the hot summer
months,” said Carol Johnston, Wal-Mart Regional General Manager. “We
believe each Wal-Mart store has a responsibility to contribute to the needs
of the community it calls home and that, at the local level, we can have the
most impact on improving people’s lives.”
Dominion donates $50,000 to the Fan Care program, most of
which goes toward the purchase of fans. Funds also are available to agencies
to purchase air-conditioners for clients with more serious health problems.
To be eligible for Fan Care, an individual must:
Live in Virginia.
Be age 60 or older.
Have a need for cooling assistance.
Meet income guidelines defined by the Area Agencies on
Aging.
The program will continue until Sept. 30 or as long as supplies
last.
Dominion and Wal-Mart invite other businesses and municipalities
to join as Fan Care partners. Tax-deductible contributions can be made to Fan
Care by sending a check in any amount to the nearest Area Agency on Aging. Checks
should be made payable to the agency.
About Dominion
Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with an energy
portfolio of about 28,100 megawatts of generation. Dominion also serves retail
energy customers in nine states. For more information about Dominion, visit
the company's Web site at www.dom.com.
About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets
and SAM'S CLUB locations in the United States. The company also operates in
Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Germany, Guatemala,
Honduras, Japan, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Korea and the United
Kingdom. The company's securities are listed on the New York Stock Exchange
and NYSE Arca, formerly the Pacific Stock Exchange, under the symbol WMT. More
information about Wal-Mart can be found by visiting www.walmartfacts.com.
Online merchandise sales are available at www.walmart.com.
