SAN DIEGO, Oct. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With the holiday season approaching, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced that it will provide more than $600,000 in charitable donations to non-profit organizations in San Diego and Orange counties as part of its continuing commitment to help local underserved communities in need.

"SDG&E shares the goals of local non-profit organizations that work hard every day to feed our hungry, shelter our homeless, assist our disabled, help our veterans, aid seniors, and protect families from domestic abuse," said Pedro Villegas, director of community relations for SDG&E. "We are proud to support the work of these non-profits that are serving the underserved this holiday season in our local communities."

As part of this initiative, SDG&E will provide grants to more than 60 organizations including: The San Diego Rescue Mission, The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, Feeding America San Diego, Crisis House, Hearts and Hands Working Together, Mama's Kitchen, Promises2Kids, Salvation Army, Senior Community Centers of San Diego, Vietnam Veterans of San Diego, YMCA – Camp Pendleton and the Veterans Housing Initiative. 

"Each and every month, The Salvation Army in East County serves at least 1,000 families who would go to bed hungry without food assistance," said Captain Terry Masango. "Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in the number of families seeking food assistance and are doing our best to meet those needs.  The good news is that, thanks to the generosity of SDG&E, we are going to be able to provide holiday meals for 100 families at Thanksgiving, and hundreds more through our other food assistance programs."

"Funding from SDG&E during this tough economic time couldn't have come at a better time for Project Liberty Call to help support enlisted families by providing temporary relief from financial or medical situations," said George Brown III, executive director of the Camp Pendleton Armed Services YMCA. "With this grant, SDG&E will help support over 20 percent of the yearly cost dedicated to Project Liberty Call."

SDG&E is committed to supporting diverse and underserved communities of San Diego and south Orange counties through charitable giving to non-profit organizations that promote emergency preparedness and safety, environmental education and community engagement, and the development of civic leadership.

SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 850,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.  The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles.  SDG&E is committed to creating ways to help customers save energy and money every day. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. 

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110106/MM26476LOGO)

SOURCE SDG&E