NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Norfolk Southern Foundation, the charitable giving affiliate of Norfolk Southern Corporation (NYSE: NSC), announced today that it awarded nearly $5.6 million in grants during 2010 to nonprofit, charitable organizations.

The Foundation supports programs that benefit nonprofit organizations in four principal areas: educational programs; community enrichment, focusing on cultural and artistic organizations; environmental programs; and health and human services.

The grants included $1.4 million in employee matching gifts in support of 510 organizations. Grants other than matching gifts went to 310 organizations in Norfolk Southern's operating territory.

The Foundation contributed to 79 United Way campaigns plus other health and human services nonprofit organizations ($1,936,618), educational institutions ($787,745), cultural and arts groups ($1,091,780), and civic, community, and environmental organizations ($365,350). Among the largest recipients were the United Ways in Norfolk and Roanoke, Va., and Atlanta, Chrysler Museum of Art, Virginia Arts Festival, National Merit Scholarship Program, ACCESS Scholarship Foundation, Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, Elizabeth River Project, Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, Grady Memorial Hospital, ForKids, Hands on Atlanta, Virginia Museum of Transportation, Woodruff Arts Center, Virginia Opera, Virginia Symphony, and Virginia Stage Company.

Of the $5.6 million granted in 2010, $2.29 million (excluding matching gifts) went to charitable organizations in Norfolk Southern's three primary locations: Norfolk, Roanoke, and Atlanta.

As part of its educational funding, the Foundation awarded a total of $260,000 in grants to 14 universities under the Norfolk Southern College Partnership Program. This program, established in 2006, builds relationships to enhance the railroad's recruiting opportunities, particularly for business and engineering graduates.

In addition, each of Norfolk Southern's 12 operating divisions has a local discretionary grant program that provides employees with opportunities to have direct impact on their communities. A total of $129,000 was paid out under the local grant program in 2010 to emergency response organizations, school programs, museums and other cultural institutions, and historical and community groups.

As a major employer in both large and small communities throughout the Eastern United States, Norfolk Southern takes seriously its role as a corporate citizen and its responsibility to commit resources, both human and financial, to the improvement of those communities for the benefit of its employees and its neighbors.

Since its creation in 1983, the Norfolk Southern Foundation has contributed nearly $117 million to thousands of civic and charitable organizations throughout Norfolk Southern's territory. In the last five years, it has provided more than $26.5 million in contributions.

During the 2010 grant season, the Foundation received a record number of requests for available 2011 funding.  Grants for 2012 funding will be accepted July 15-Sept. 30, 2011. For more information about the Foundation, and eligibility and application procedures, please visit, Norfolk Southern Foundation.

Norfolk Southern Corporation is one of the nation's premier transportation companies. Its Norfolk Southern Railway subsidiary operates approximately 21,000 route miles in 22 states and the District of Columbia, serves every major container port in the eastern United States, and provides efficient connections to other rail carriers.  Norfolk Southern operates the most extensive intermodal network in the East and is a major transporter of coal and industrial products.

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SOURCE Norfolk Southern Corporation