LOS ANGELES, April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Anne Shen Smith, chairman and CEO of Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), recently received a Corporate Leadership Award from the Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment (CAUSE) at its annual dinner.

The event featured representatives from corporations, nonprofit groups, local businesses and individuals committed to CAUSE's mission. That mission is to advance the political empowerment of the Asian Pacific American Community through non-partisan voter registration and education, community outreach and leadership development.  Others honored at the event included Mazie K. Hirano, U.S. Senator, State of Hawaii, Rep. Mark Takano, 41^st District of California and Asian Pacific American Legislative Staff Network (APALS).

SoCalGas has supported CAUSE for more than 10 years through participation on the board and its programs such as CAUSE's Political Institute and Women in Power.

"CAUSE has a long-standing relationship with Southern California Gas Company and we salute Anne Shen Smith for her distinguished leadership in the corporate world and the environmental community as well as being a role model to so many," said Charlie Woo, chairman of CAUSE.

"Over the past 20 years, CAUSE has been working hard to increase the political power and influence of the Asian American community and it's so important that the leadership of our communities, our government and our businesses reflect the faces of the people they serve," said Shen Smith.

About Southern California Gas Co.
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 140 years.  It is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 20.9 million consumers connected through nearly 5.8 million meters in more than 500 communities.  The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border.  SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE).

About Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment
The Center for Asian Americans United for Self Empowerment  is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, community-based organization with a mission to advance the political empowerment of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through nonpartisan voter registration and education, community outreach and leadership development. Founded in 1993, CAUSE is comprised of committed professional, business, community and political leaders, and has established itself as a unique nonpartisan APA organization dedicated soley to APA civic and political participation. Based in the Greater Los Angeles area, CAUSE's influences reaches throughout California.

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SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.