The Dominion Foundation has been selected to receive the Architecture Medal for Virginia Service. The Society’s most prestigious public award, the Medal honors an individual or organization that has made an unusually significant contribution to Virginia’s built environment or to the public’s understanding and awareness of our built world. The Society presents this award jointly with the Virginia Center for Architecture at the Visions for Architecture gala on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012, at the Hotel John Marshall.
The Medal celebrates, particularly, the Foundation’s philanthropic support for organizations working to advance the ideals of livable communities and environmental conservation across the Commonwealth. Contributing more than $20 million annually to non-profit organizations and schools, the Foundation supports a wide range of human service, environmental, educational, and cultural organizations. Their support for the Learning Barge on the Elizabeth River has educated thousands of Virginia residents about the importance of environmental stewardship. Similarly, their support for programs like Energy Share, area Agencies on Aging, the United Way, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Project Plant It!, the Nature Conservancy, the Artificial Reef Program — and many more — has helped to build stronger communities throughout mid-Atlantic.
In addition, the award recognizes the Foundation’s generous gift to the Virginia Center for Architecture which was instrumental in securing the Center’s continued ability to pursue its educational mission. Their substantial gift, contributed over the past 5 years, has been utilized by the Center to advance the understanding of architecture through a variety of educational programs and exhibitions. It also made possible much-needed historic preservation of the Center’s historic home at 2501 Monument Avenue.