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

VOX Teen Communications receives top TrueBlue Community Award, $10,000 grant

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Oct 17, 2014, 11:36 ET

ATLANTA, Oct. 17, 2014 /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 VOX Teen Communications in Atlanta receiving the top grant of $10,000. The grant will help support VOX's youth development program which enables thousands of metro Atlanta teens to express themselves through Vox Teen Newspaper, the city's only independent, large-circulation publication created by and for teens.

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 fourth year for GNG's TrueBlue Community Awards.

"GNG is proud to recognize and support Vox Teen Communications and the other 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 has supported nonprofit organizations in Georgia communities for the last 16 years, both financially and through its award-winning TrueBlue Crew employee volunteer program.

"These outstanding nonprofit organizations have different missions and goals, but the results are the same – they make a difference in the lives of Georgians," said Maurice Baker, manager of community relations at GNG. "The creativity, diversity and dedication of each group and their mission deserves special recognition this year."

The TrueBlue Community Awards were presented on Thursday, October 16, at a special reception in the Georgian Ballroom of the Biltmore building, which is home to GNG headquarters in Atlanta.

In addition to VOX Teen Communications, the other award winners are:

Blue Flame Awards (Four $5,000 winners)	GNG Focus Area/Program
I-Care Inc. (Decatur)	Seniors
Savannah Riverkeeper (Augusta)	Environment/Sustainability
Sheltering Arms Early Education & Family (Atlanta)	Children & Education
Sweetwater Mission ( Austell)	Energy Assistance

Natural Leader Awards (Eight $2,500 winners)	GNG Focus Area/Program
Atlanta Community Toolbank Inc. (Atlanta)	Energy Assistance
Cherokee Triad/S.A.L.T. Council (Canton)	Seniors
Everybody Wins! Atlanta (Atlanta)	Children & Education
HouseProud Atlanta (Atlanta)	Seniors
In Roads Inc. (Atlanta)	Children & Education
Kate's Club (Atlanta)	Children & Education
Senior Connection (Atlanta)	Seniors
The Methodist Home for Children & Youth (Macon)	Children & Education

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 has been the leading provider of natural gas to homes and businesses in Georgia for more than 15 years. Georgia Natural Gas is part of SouthStar Energy Services, a preeminent retail natural gas marketing company operating in 11 states. Based in Atlanta, SouthStar is a joint venture between AGL Resources Inc. and Piedmont Natural Gas. SouthStar manages over ten brands across its footprint including Georgia Natural Gas in the state of Georgia, Nicor Advanced Energy and Nicor Solutions in Illinois, and in other states, Ohio Natural Gas, Florida Natural Gas, New York Natural Gas, Maryland Energy, and Grand Rapids Energy. SouthStar also does business in the Carolinas as Piedmont Energy Company and in other parts of the Southeast as SouthStar Energy Services. For more information: www.onlygng.com.

SOURCE Georgia Natural Gas