SAN DIEGO, Sept. 6, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE) and its employees today announced a pledge of up to $600,000 toward disaster-relief assistance in the wake of the Hurricane Katrina devastation affecting the U.S. Gulf Coast.
In addition to the monetary pledge, the company's San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Company utility subsidiaries have offered electric recovery help and earth-moving equipment for the ravaged area through a mutual-assistance program. Crews and equipment are ready to mobilize upon request.
The company's local assistance effort includes a $10,000 sponsorship of San Diego Clear Channel Radio's Storm Aid event tomorrow. Sempra Energy's sponsorship contribution, and other donations collected during the event, will support the American Red Cross's hurricane relief efforts. In all, there are 14 Clear Channel radio stations in the San Diego area. The event will include live broadcasts from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. from the Qualcomm Stadium parking lot where radio personalities and volunteers will be collecting cash donations.
"We are pleased to lend a hand to the victims of this catastrophe in the Gulf Coast region," said Stephen L. Baum, chairman and chief executive officer of Sempra Energy. "We hope that our assistance will accelerate their recovery efforts from this terrible tragedy as they strive to rebuild their lives and their cities."
Sempra Energy's monetary pledge reflects matching combined employee contributions up to $200,000 made to specific charitable organizations providing relief services throughout the region impacted by the disaster. Organizations eligible for matching funds include: AmeriCares; the American Red Cross and International Relief Teams. These organizations are delivering medicines and needed medical attention to the disaster area, as well as providing clean drinking water and disease-prevention services, direct aid and shelter, and critical volunteer support.
The company's pledge also includes a donation to the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation, an organization designed to support long-term family restoration and recovery by focusing on education, housing, health care, legal assistance and jobs.
Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2004 revenues of $9.4 billion. The Sempra Energy companies' 13,000 employees serve more than 29 million consumers in the United States, Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America and Asia.