NGT&S awards grant to Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs for Memorial Forest Shrine upgrades
NGT&S Contact
Jen Browne – Communications Specialist
(713) 331-7474
HOUSTON and ASHLAND, OH (July 5, 2011) – NiSource Gas Transmission & Storage’s (NGT&S) Columbia Gas Transmission today announced that it has awarded a grant of $10,600 to the Ohio Federation of Women's Clubs from the NiSource Charitable Foundation. The grant will aid in the purchase of museum-quality preservation display cases for the Memorial Forest Shrine, Ohio’s War Memorial, located in Mohican-Memorial State Forest.
“Columbia Gas aims to support local organizations who share our commitment to improving the environment and promoting civic involvement in the communities where we operate," said Victor M. Gaglio, senior vice president of operations for NGT&S. “We are proud to partner with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and the Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs to help preserve and protect our natural resources, advance education and honor our veterans."
The Memorial Forest Shrine is dedicated to the memory of 20,000 Ohioans killed in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War. The new display cases will permanently house the centerpieces of the shrine, the "great books" in which the names of these individuals are inscribed. The preservation cases have tiles that absorb moisture and pneumatic locked seals that allow less than three percent air exchange in a month, preventing these two great books from further deterioration.
“We are so appreciative of this grant to preserve these historical books,” said Shirley Mitchell, Chairman of the Shrine Trustees and member of the Steubenville Woman's Club. “People don't realize what we have here that honors Ohio's war dead. The Ohio Federation of Women’s Clubs have the responsibility of preserving this for future generations to enjoy.”
“At NGT&S, we have set out to develop a comprehensive community relations program to benefit our customers, our employees and our neighbors across our areas of operation,” said Jen Browne, NGT&S communications specialist. “We are focused on promoting sustainable business practices and growing mutually beneficial long-term relationships by making investments that provide lasting community benefits.”
Information on the Memorial Forest Shrine is available online at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources website, www.ohiodnr.com.
Pictured above (left to right): Tim Humphrey, Forest Manager; Stephanie Rouse, Shrine Trustee and President of GFWC Woman's Club of Mingo Junction; Shirley Mitchell, Chairman of the Shrine Trustees and member of the Steubenville Woman's Club; and Terry Cramlett, Columbia Gas Manager Operations