Georgia Natural Gas® Recognizes 13 Georgia Nonprofits with TrueBlue Community Awards Grants Totaling $50,000

Georgia Appalachian Trail Club receives top TrueBlue Community Award, $10,000 grant

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Oct 28, 2013, 11:32 ET

ATLANTA, Oct. 28, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Natural Gas® (GNG), Georgia's leading natural gas provider, announced today that it has awarded $50,000 in grants to 13 Georgia nonprofit organizations, with the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club Inc. (GATC) in Atlanta receiving the top grant of $10,000. The grant will help support GATC's Outreach Program, which takes children and youth on the Appalachian Trail and nearby trails to help them learn about nature by experiencing it first-hand.

All of the award-winning nonprofit organizations exemplify GNG's commitment and support for children and education, seniors, energy assistance, and environmental sustainability in Georgia. This is the third year for GNG's TrueBlue Community Awards.

"GNG is proud to recognize and support the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club and the other 12 outstanding community organizations for the excellent work they do," said GNG President and CEO Mike Braswell. "We applaud all of the applicants for their commitment and dedication to Georgia's citizens and hope that these grants help them continue with their mission to make Georgia a better place to live."

GNG, which celebrates its Crystal Anniversary this year, has supported nonprofit organizations in Georgia communities for the last 15 years, both financially and through its award-winning TrueBlue Crew employee volunteer program.

"These outstanding nonprofit organizations have demonstrated that they are making a difference in the lives of Georgians," said Maurice Baker, manager of community relations at GNG. "GATC's children and youth program fosters an appreciation of nature and the environment and merits special recognition this year."

The TrueBlue Community Awards were presented on Wednesday, October 23, at a special reception in the Georgian Ballroom of the Biltmore building, which is home to GNG headquarters in Atlanta. The reception and awards ceremony were emceed by WXIA-TV's Karyn Greer.

In addition to GATC, the other award winners are:

Blue Flame Awards (Four $5,000 winners)	GNG Focus Area/Program
The Altamaha Riverkeeper (Darien, GA)	Environment (Water Quality)
Project Open Hand (Atlanta, GA)	Seniors (Meals)
The Reece Center (Palmetto, GA)	Children (Equine Therapy)
Society of St. Vincent de Paul (Atlanta, GA)	Energy Assistance

Natural Leader Awards (Eight $2,500 winners)	GNG Focus Area/Program
Carrie Steele-Pitts Home (Atlanta, GA)	Children/Education
Meals on Wheels (Coweta County, GA)	Seniors
Paine College (Augusta, GA)	Education (STEM disciplines)
Senior Citizens of Augusta (Augusta, GA)	Seniors/Energy Assistance
Urban Hope Inc. (Savannah, GA)	Children/Education
Visiting Nurse Health System (Atlanta, GA)	Seniors (Hospice/Healthcare)
Wellspring (Fayette County, GA)	Children (Residential girls program)
Wesley Glen Mentoring (Macon, GA)	Education (Adults with disabilities)

TrueBlue Community Awards applications were received from nonprofit organizations throughout the state. Entry finalists and winners were selected by an independent panel of local civic and nonprofit leaders. Awards were presented in all of GNG's community focus areas.

About Georgia Natural Gas
Georgia Natural Gas is part of SouthStar Energy Services, a preeminent retail natural gas marketing company. Based in Atlanta, SouthStar is a joint venture between AGL Resources, Inc., and Piedmont Natural Gas Co. In addition to operating in Georgia as Georgia Natural Gas, SouthStar also does business in Illinois as Nicor Advanced Energy and Nicor Solutions, in the Carolinas as Piedmont Energy Company, in Ohio as Ohio Natural Gas, in Florida as Florida Natural Gas, in New York as New York Natural Gas, in Maryland as Maryland Energy, in Michigan as Grand Rapids Energy and in other parts of the Southeast as SouthStar Energy Services. For more information: www.onlygng.com.