West Virginia Daily Reports Massey Energy Co.'s $1 Million Pledge for New Marsh Fork School

JULIAN, W.Va., March 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Massey Energy pledged $1 million to the Raleigh County Board of Education for the construction of a new facility for the students of Marsh Fork, according to a story in the Beckley Register-Herald. The donation is part of Massey's Partners in Education program that provides volunteers and financial assistance to the education system in Central Appalachia.

In a letter to Raleigh County School Board President Richard Snuffer, Don Blankenship, chairman and CEO of Massey Energy wrote, "We're proud of our long-standing partnership with Marsh Fork Elementary School and are pleased to partner with you to provide the students with a new school. We understand that you wish to replace the current school because it is over 70 years old and located in the floodplain. We hope our contribution will assist you."

"I was very pleasantly surprised," Snuffer told the Register-Herald. "I thought it was a fair offer from them [Massey] to help us persuade the School Building Authority to help fund the project."

"That was very generous on their part," continued Raleigh County Schools Superintendent Charlotte Hutchens. "I'm not aware of there ever being a donation like that for Raleigh County schools. I was very surprised and happy."

Sen. Mike Green, D-Raleigh told the Register-Herald, "I think it's outstanding. I can't tell you how happy I am for the people in that part of the county ... For Don Blankenship and Massey Energy to step forward and do this is wonderful."

SOURCE Massey Energy Co.