Washington Gas Recognized Top Corporate Sponsor of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s 2008 D.C. Light The Night Walk

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--On Tuesday, February 10, in Reston, Va., Washington Gas was recognized by The National Capital Area Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as the top corporate sponsor of the annual Light The Night Walk which took place last fall on October 18, in Washington, D.C.

“Because of organizations like LLS, loved ones undergoing treatment today will go home tomorrow to lead a full and happy life. We must stay focused because there is much more progress required”

Washington Gas contributed nearly $41,000, of which $30,965 was raised by employees and $10,000 contributed by the company.

"We are extremely grateful to Washington Gas for their continued support and dedication to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society," said Donna McKelvey, executive director of the National Capital Area Chapter. "Because of their ongoing support for the past 10 years as a partner in our Light The Night campaign, Washington Gas has made a decade of difference in the lives of the patients and families we serve."

Washington Gas has been one of the top five performing corporate sponsors since it began fundraising for LLS in 2000. Since that time, Washington Gas has contributed $273,000 over the last ten years. Of those contributions, $223,000 has been raised by the employees of Washington Gas and $50,000 has been donated by the company.

“I think everyone who has had some involvement with cancer is willing to do whatever they can to help. What gives me hope is progress. Progress takes money, peoples’ time and support,” said Doug Staebler, a vice president at Washington Gas, who also has a personal connection to the organization’s mission, and serves on the 2009 Corporate Walk Leadership Team. “Because of organizations like LLS, loved ones undergoing treatment today will go home tomorrow to lead a full and happy life. We must stay focused because there is much more progress required,” Staebler concluded.

The Washington, D.C. Light The Night Walk generated $615,000, that will support LLS’s mission, which is to find a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Overall, the National Capital Area Chapter raised more than $1.8 million for lifesaving cancer research through its five walks held throughout the Washington metropolitan area.

About Washington Gas

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Washington Gas is a wholly-owned subsidiary of WGL Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:WGL). In addition to Washington Gas, the parent company holds a group of energy-related retail businesses that focus primarily on retail energy-marketing and commercial heating, ventilating and air conditioning services.

Additional information about WGL Holdings is available on its Web site, wglholdings.com. Go to washingtongas.com for more information about Washington Gas.