SAN DIEGO, Feb. 28, 2011 – If you had $25,000 to promote responsible leadership to the youth in your community, how would you use it?  That is the challenge that San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has posed to non-profit organizations with a focus on character development, and fair and ethical leadership in youth.  Individual non-profits that are selected will receive up to $25,000, and those that collaborate to develop civic projects will receive up to $50,000, as part of a new Excellence in Civic Leadership initiative.
  
Non-profits can learn more information and submit their grant applications at www.sdge.com/community from now until March 31.  Programs should reach out to students in kindergarten through grade 12 that provide mentoring, tutoring and development of leadership skills, or have a primary focus on science, technology, engineering and math.  The selected programs will capture the essence of developing strong youth leaders in underserved and diverse communities that engage future decision makers.

“There are so many organizations doing valuable, forward-thinking work to develop the character of our local youth,” said Frank Urtasun, director of community relations for SDG&E. “We want to encourage those efforts that make an impactful difference and have the most far-reaching positive benefits.” 

SDG&E will contact the selected grant recipients the week of April 18.  Non-profit organizations that would like an overview of SDG&E’s online application process can join one of two conference calls on March 7 or 8 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., by calling 866-432-6924.
 
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.5 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 our customers save energy and money every day.
  
SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE).  Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2010 revenues of $9 billion.  The Sempra Energy companies’ 13,500 employees serve about 25 million consumers worldwide.

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