SAN DIEGO, Jan. 14, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) today announced a pledge of up to $700,000 toward disaster-relief assistance in the wake of the Tsunami devastation in southern Asia.
These contributions, which are in addition to Sempra Energy's annual corporate giving program, will be earmarked primarily toward Indonesia, the country most seriously affected by the natural disaster.
"The destruction and loss of lives in southern Asia is a terrible tragedy," said Stephen L. Baum, chairman and chief executive officer of Sempra Energy. "We and our employees wish to join the effort to help the survivors recover and rebuild their lives."
The contributions will be designated in the following manner:
-- Sempra Energy is donating $300,000 to the Indonesian Red Cross
Society and $200,000 to an Indonesian special relief fund, ESDM
Aceh Peduli, for specific relief efforts on the ground in
Indonesia. Some reports indicate the death toll in Indonesia
alone could exceed 200,000.
-- Sempra Energy also is matching combined employee contributions up
to $200,000 made to specific charitable organizations providing
relief services throughout the 12-country region impacted by the
disaster. Selected organizations include: AmeriCares, American
Red Cross International Response Fund, Project Concern
International, UNICEF and Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team.
These five organizations are delivering medicines and needed
medical attention to those who need it, providing clean drinking
water and disease-prevention services, direct aid and shelter,
nutritional programs for children and nursing mothers, as well as
important volunteer support.
Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2003 revenues of $7.9 billion. The Sempra Energy companies' 13,000 employees serve more than 10 million customers in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America and Asia.