WQED Multimedia and The Dominion Foundation present
A Year of Volunteers
A special luncheon celebrating the contributions of the 2005 Dominion VITA Award winners
Friday, September 15, 2005
11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
2nd Floor Concourse B and C
Downtown, Pittsburgh

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PITTSBURGH, PA - For seventeen years, the Dominion VITA (Volunteer In the Arts) Award, coordinated by WQED Multimedia, has honored dedicated individuals who have given their time and talents to ensure that the arts thrive in our region.

The Dominion VITA Award was established in 1988 to recognize the efforts of volunteers of all ages who give of themselves to help keep arts and cultural programs in Western Pennsylvania alive and thriving.

Each year, VITA awardees are selected from hundreds of nominations received. A committee of Pittsburgh area professionals interested in cultivating the invaluable volunteer arts force selects the winners.

“Volunteers are the heart and soul of any arts organization,” said William C. Hall Jr., Dominion’s vice president of external affairs and corporate communications. “Dominion is pleased to help honor those people who keep the arts in our community vibrant.”

“This year we received twice as many nominations as last year,” said George L. Miles, Jr., president and CEO of WQED Multimedia. “It’s exciting to see the VITA program continue to grow. The extraordinary dedication, generosity and leadership of these volunteers are a testament to the importance of the arts in our community. WQED salutes their volunteer spirit.”

The 2005 Dominion VITA Award winners are:

- Col. Merle J. Addams, Polish Cultural Council
- Mary P. Borkow, Johnstown Symphony Orchestra
- Linda A. Maurhoff, Opus 1 Music Society
- Harvey B. Meieran, The Pittsburgh Savoyards
- Flo Monroe, Hope Academy of Music
- Colin O’Donohoe, New Moon Orchestra
- Fritz Okie, Community Theatre Project Corporation, Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre
- Sandra L. Pack, Allegheny Historical Preservation
- Susan Phillips, Community Foundation of Greene County
- Meg Rauth, Creativity Unlimited in Pittsburgh
- Sally Shirey, Ligonier Valley Writers
- W. Keith Smith, River City Brass Band

Winners are honored with daily on-air salutes on WQED fm89.3 and WQED tv13, a full-page ad in PITTSBURGH magazine, on WQED Multimedia’s website, www.wqed.org, a $1000 honorarium for their organization and a plaque to commemorate their achievements. The VITA of the Year’s organization is awarded a $2500 gift.

The VITA of the Year Award winner will be announced at the luncheon.

For more information, contact Gigi Saladna, WQED’s promotion manager, or Denise Hughes, Dominion’s media relations representative.

Arts organizations interested in nominating volunteers can obtain Dominion VITA award applications on the WQED website at www.wqed.org, by calling 412-622-1363 or by writing to Dominion VITA Awards, WQED Multimedia, 4802 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

The VITA Awards is a joint community partnership between Dominion and WQED Multimedia. It is funded by an annual grant from Dominion Foundation.

Dominion is one of the nation’s largest producers of energy with an energy portfolio of about 28,700 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.

WQED Multimedia provides educational, cultural and informational products and services that enhance and engage the community. It is the parent company of WQED tv13, WQEX – your America’s Store channel, WQED fm89.3, WQEJ fm89.7/Johnstown, a publishing division that includes PITTSBURGH magazine, local and national television and radio productions, www.wqed.org and the WQED Education and Community Resource Center.

 

For additional information, please e-mail: promotion@wqed.org

©1999-2005 WQED Multimedia