SAN DIEGO, March 19, 2014 /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. 

The SDG&E Environmental Champions initiative welcomes proposals from non-profit organizations for programs that educate k-12 youth and engage communities as stewards of the environment in SDG&E's service territory. 

Non-profit grant awardees will receive up to $25,000 for individual programs and up to $50,000 for innovative collaborative programs among partner environmental non-profit organizations.

"We share the commitment of local non-profit organizations to promote environmental sustainability in the San Diego region," said Michael Schneider, vice president of operations support for SDG&E. "Their work is fundamental to our and the next generation's stewardship of the region's natural resources.  We proudly support them."

At today's kick-off luncheon, the San Diego Zoo, the Urban Corps of San Diego, Groundwork Chollas Creek-San Diego, and the Escondido Creek Conservancy - 2013 grant recipients - presented their environmental education programs to over 150 of their peers in the environmental community.

This year, non-profit organizations will have an opportunity to submit online applications through April 18.  Preference will be given to environmental programs that serve underserved youth and communities in 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 861,000 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 (SDG&E)