Dominion pledges $35M for HBCUs in Virginia, three other states

$10M scholarship fund will assist minority students across service area

Published July 16, 2020 by Kate Andrews

Dominion Energy Inc. announced Thursday its $35 million initiative that will include a $10 million scholarship fund for Black students and other underrepresented minorities and also support historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in Virginia and three other states.

More details will come soon, according to a news release from the utility company, which recently announced a $5 million pledge through its charitable foundation to support social justice organizations in its coverage area.

The new initiative will support HBCUs in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Ohio with $25 million over the next six years, although the specific amounts and institutions have yet to be announced. Virginia has five HBCUs: Hampton University, Norfolk State University, Virginia State University, Virginia Union University and Virginia University of Lynchburg.

The scholarship fund will be known as the Dominion Energy Educational Equity fund, and more information will be announced in coming days.

“We all know there are no actions or words that will immediately heal the hurt caused by 400 years of institutional racism,” Dominion Chairman, President and CEO Thomas F. Farrell II said in a statement. “But since early June, we have seen signs of change and growth. Our country is moving forward. We are moving forward, too.” Farrell added that the HBCUs have played important roles in “African American advancement and the importance of education as an equalizer in society.”