SAN DIEGO, May 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) kicked-off its annual Environmental Champions initiative, a $1 million charitable giving campaign that funds local environmental non-profit organizations in San Diego and southern Orange counties.

Beginning today, SDG&E is welcoming proposals from non-profit organizations for programs that engage and educate young people in the community as stewards of the environment in the areas of natural resource conservation and protection, habitat preservation and restoration, and waste and recycling.

Grant awardees will receive up to $25,000 for individual projects and up to $50,000 for collaborative projects with partner environmental non-profit organizations. This initiative is limited to environmental education and community engagement programs administered in SDG&E's service territory.

"At SDG&E, we have a long-standing commitment to helping local non-profit organizations that engage kids through programs that promote environmental stewardship in the San Diego region," said Pam Fair, chief environmental officer and vice president of environmental and operations support for SDG&E. "We are looking forward to again supporting these organizations that seek to enhance our local environment."  

Organizations will have an opportunity to submit applications until May 31. Preference will be given to environmental programs that target one or more of the following areas: natural resource conservation and protection, habitat preservation and restoration, energy efficiency, and waste management/recycling.  SDG&E plans to announce the winners early this summer.

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 860,000 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. Connect with SDG&E's Customer Contact Center at 800-411-7343, on Twitter (@SDGE) and Facebook.

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SOURCE San Diego Gas & Electric