RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- A $75,000 donation from Dominion Resources will support a special concert presented by the Richmond Symphony, in partnership with the Carole and Marcus Weinstein Jewish Community Center and the Virginia Holocaust Museum, as well as an extensive exhibit at the Virginia Holocaust Museum. The concert and the exhibit will commemorate the 70^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the infamous Nazi concentration camp.

The Dominion Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Dominion Resources, Inc., parent company of Dominion Virginia Power.

"The concert and exhibit are poignant, evocative ways to remember the sacrifices of those who suffered and perished during the Holocaust and to honor the survivors who carried their stories forward," said Hunter A. Applewhite, president of the Dominion Foundation.

Voices of Survival Concert

The concert, Voices of Survival, will be held at 7 p.m. on Jan. 27, which is also International Holocaust Remembrance Day—a memorial day for the victims of the Holocaust. The performance combines musical pieces composed by those who were persecuted or died in Nazi concentration camps along with video vignettes, spoken words and a youth choir. The choir is formed of Israeli students from eight Virginia colleges and universities singing with members of the Richmond Symphony Chorus and Orchestra.

"Voices of Survival is meant to be a remembrance of the horrors inflicted on the Jewish people during World War II, but also an uplifting communal experience celebrating the indomitable human spirit," said David J.L. Fisk, executive director of the Richmond Symphony. The Dominion Foundation donated $50,000 toward this concert. For more information about the concert and tickets, visit www.richmondsymphony.com      

Auschwitz Exhibit

The Auschwitz exhibit at the Virginia Holocaust Museum will include 21 panels of photos, videos and more, encompassing over 2,000 square feet of exhibit space. Titled "Oswiecim-Auschwitz," the exhibit will illustrate how the three large camps of the Auschwitz complex embraced the entire range of Nazi policies and atrocities. High-ranking SS officers and other Nazi officials will be profiled in the exhibit, which also will pay tribute to many of the survivors whose testimonies provided an enduring legacy. The exhibit will be in Richmond for eight months starting in mid-April and then will be taken to other cities in the U.S.

"The experiences of the Auschwitz survivors who settled in Virginia, some of whom are still living, will be a prominent feature of this exhibit," said Dr. Charles Sydnor, executive director of the Virginia Holocaust Museum. "We are honored to share their stories through this exhibit and to keep the memory of the victims alive so that the world will never forget." The Dominion Foundation donated $25,000 toward this exhibit.

About the Dominion Foundation

The Dominion Foundation is dedicated to improving the physical, social and economic well-being of the communities served by Dominion companies, including Dominion Virginia Power. Dominion and the Foundation support nonprofit causes that meet basic human needs, protect the environment, support education and promote community vitality. For more information about Dominion, one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, visit www.dom.com. 

About the Richmond Symphony

Founded in 1957, the Richmond Symphony is the largest performing arts organization in Central Virginia. The organization includes an orchestra of more than 70 professional musicians, the 150-voice Richmond Symphony Chorus and more than 200 students in the Richmond Symphony Youth Orchestra programs. Each season, more than 250,000 members of the community enjoy concerts, radio broadcasts, and educational outreach programs. The Richmond Symphony is partially funded by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, visit www.richmondsymphony.com.     

About the Virginia Holocaust Museum

Founded to educate the community about the tragedies of the Holocaust, the Virginia Holocaust Museum strives to memorialize and document the atrocities of World War II. Through exhibits, programming, and outreach, the Museum uses the history of genocide to teach the dangers of prejudice and indifference. Each year over 37,000 visitors tour the Museum, including students from over 100 different Virginia schools. For more information, visit www.vaholocaust.org.

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dominion-resources-gives-75000-to-honor-auschwitz-remembrance-efforts-300024528.html

SOURCE Dominion