SAN DIEGO, March. --, 2010 – Sempra Energy Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), today announced $250,000 in grants to 10 community colleges in California to provide scholarship support for students seeking certification or training for “green” jobs.

        “The Sempra Energy Foundation is committed to supporting educational programs that will inspire the future leaders of our community,” said Jessie J. Knight, Jr., chairman of the board of directors of the Sempra Energy Foundation and executive vice president of external affairs for Sempra Energy.  “The grants will help educate community college students in environmental sustainability and prepare them for careers in green job fields.”

        The $250,000 grants will provide financial support for underserved students in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Kern, Riverside, Orange and Imperial counties.

        The scholarships will go to students enrolled in educational and training programs in science, technology and engineering to promote new advances in environmental compliance, sustainability planning and alternative energy. 

        "Sempra Energy Foundation’s generous support of the California Community Colleges Scholarship Endowment will provide vital financial assistance to students in need who are pursuing careers in green technology disciplines,” said Paul Lanning, president and chief executive officer of the Foundation for California Community Colleges. “We appreciate Sempra Energy Foundation’s commitment to California’s future and applaud the noteworthy example it is setting for other companies throughout our state."

        Each of the selected 10 colleges will receive $25,000 in scholarships. The Sempra Energy Foundation’s contribution also will give the colleges the opportunity to receive an additional $12,500 in direct-match dollars from the Bernard Osher Foundation as part of a statewide fundraising campaign. The campaign, launched in 2008 with a historic $50 million committment from the Osher Foundation, is spearheaded by the Foundation for California Community Colleges and involves the entire community college system to create a $100 million statewide scholarship endowment by 2011.

        The Sempra Energy Foundation granted scholarships to the following schools:
        • San Diego City Community College
        • Southwestern Community College, Chula Vista
        • Imperial Valley Community College
        • Riverside Community College
        • Fullerton College
        • Santa Ana Community College
        • Los Angeles Trade Tech
        • Glendale Community College
        • Citrus College Glendora
        • Taft Community College

        The Sempra Energy Foundation is the 501(c)(3) private foundation of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2009 revenues of more than $8 billion.  The Sempra Energy companies’ 13,800 employees serve more than 29 million consumers worldwide.  For more information on the Sempra Energy Foundation, visit www.sempraenergyfoundation.org.

        The Foundation for California Community Colleges is the official nonprofit foundation to the California Community Colleges’ Board of Governors and Chancellor’s Office. The Foundation’s mission is to benefit, support, and enhance the missions of the California Community College system, the largest higher education system in the nation. Incorporated in 1998, the Foundation works with Community Colleges and partner organizations to manage donations, grants, programs, and services that drive excellence in education while saving millions of dollars for colleges each year.  The Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit corporation and receives no direct state or public support. For more information, visit www.foundationccc.org.

###