Dominion Resources’ 30-year-old volunteer program was celebrated April 21 at the company’s Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Plant in Lusby. Dominion has owned the Calvert County facility for nearly a dozen years. According to Vice President of LNG Operations Mike Frederick, in that time $2.3 million of contributions have been made to Maryland’s charities and nonprofit organizations. One of the biggest benefits the community receives is the volunteer time logged by Dominion employees.
During the April 21 event, plant employee Susie Lopez was saluted as Dominion Cove Point’s Volunteer of the Year.
Dominion’s Manager of Philanthropy and Community Partnership Cindy Balderson commended Lopez for her initiative in getting coworkers to participate in a variety of environmental projects at Annmarie Garden in Dowell and for the benefit of Calvert County Division of Parks and Recreation facilities. Lopez, said Balderson, was ready to “take that extra step and prepared to lead.”
Lopez, who has worked at the plant since 2006, has led Dominion Cove Point’s recent efforts to greet military veterans, aid Farming 4 Hunger, and provide assistance to Christmas in April, United Way of Calvert County and Calvert Hospice.
“Susie was real excited about what we were doing,” said Bernie Fowler Jr. of Farming 4 Hunger. He credited Lopez with obtaining the needed funds from Dominion for his organization’s “string bean project. I can’t think of anybody who deserves this more than Susie.”
Calvert United Way CEO Kelly Chambers noted Lopez has actively recruited coworkers for participation in the organization’s annual Day of Caring and Mardi Gras. Chambers said she is impressed with Lopez’s “optimism and energy.”
Steve Sanders of Calvert County Christmas in April praised Lopez for organizing a crew from Dominion to build a ramp this year for a house on Mackall Road in St. Leonard. Of her previous work in getting her charges to their designated worksite, Sanders declared, “she makes it flow flawlessly.”
Calvert Hospice Executive Director Brenda Laughhunn said Lopez, with the help of her daughter, Kylie, played a significant role in the organization’s annual Festival of Trees, preparing several Christmas trees for displays at the Yuletide fundraiser. Laughhunn commended Lopez for her “enthusiasm and spirit.”
A press release from Dominion listed some of the other organizations Dominion Cove Point has been involved with under Lopez’s leadership. The list includes the St. Leonard Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Relay for Life and Calvert County’s Green Expo.
“The list is even longer,” said Balderson.
As Dominion Cove Point’s Volunteer of the Year, Lopez got to choose a local organization to receive a $1,000 check from the company. Balderson announced that Lopez had chosen Calvert Hospice.
“I couldn’t do it without all of you,” Lopez told her coworkers. “We always have a good time.”
“We are proud of what we do from a volunteer perspective,” said Frederick.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
Normal
0
<w:ValidateAgainst
<!–
–>
