Chester, VA – Today, Columbia Gas of Virginia, Inc., in partnership with the NiSource Charitable Foundation, is congratulating the graduates of its third annual Youth Ambassador program.
Columbia Gas again teamed up with the 2 HYPE Foundation for this year’s program, which champions energy-related career development in the Commonwealth by providing Central Virginia high school students with paid internships and the chance to learn first-hand about the natural gas industry.
“We are proud to support the 2 HYPE Foundation and programs like this one, as we work together to build strong communities in Virginia,” said Columbia Gas of Virginia President and Chief Operating Officer Jennifer Montague. “Our young people are the future of the energy and natural gas industry, and we’re thrilled to be able to share our time, talent and resources to help them prepare to be the leaders of tomorrow.”
“Every child carries God-given potential, and our responsibility as a community is to help them see it, nurture it and walk confidently in it,” said 2 HYPE Foundation Board Chairman Pastor Lamont Hobbs. “The Youth Ambassador Program is about more than developing future leaders—it’s about helping young people discover their purpose, serve others with compassion, and become a positive influence wherever life takes them.”
During the eight-week-long program, approximately 22 participating students received hands-on instruction from energy experts who helped them:
- Gain knowledge about the utility and energy industries;
- Acquire technical and leadership and job transferable skills; and
- Participate in community service projects.
The NiSource Charitable Foundation is the philanthropic organization of Columbia Gas’s parent company. Through the NiSource Charitable Foundation, Columbia Gas of Virginia provided approximately $500,000 in 2025 in financial contributions to charitable organizations that share our mission of meeting basic human needs, community connections, STEAM education and environmental stewardship.
For more information on how Columbia Gas of Virginia gives back to the community, visit our website.
About the NiSource Charitable Foundation
The NiSource Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and serves as the charitable arm for NiSource Inc. and its companies operating under the NIPSCO and Columbia Gas brands. The Foundation’s mission is to create strong and sustainable communities where our employees and customers live and work. The Foundation lives up to its mission by providing charitable grants to nonprofit organizations and by encouraging employee volunteerism. Learn more at www.NiSource.com/Foundation.
About Columbia Gas of Virginia
Columbia Gas of Virginia delivers clean, dependable and efficient natural gas to approximately 293,000 customers in 98 communities across the Commonwealth. With headquarters in Chesterfield County, it is one of six regulated utility companies of NiSource (NYSE: NI), one of the largest fully-regulated utility companies in the United States. NiSource employees are focused on our mission to deliver safe, reliable energy that drives value to our customers. More information about Columbia Gas of Virginia and NiSource, including our record of leadership in sustainability, investments in the communities we serve, and how we live our vision to be an innovative and trusted energy partner, is available at www.ColumbiaGasVA.com and www.NiSource.com.
