SDG&E to grant US$10 million to civil organizations to expand their services

SAN DIEGO, CA – Utility company San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is awarding grants of $250,000 to $1 million to 21 community-based nonprofit organizations located throughout the region, enabling them to expand essential services to vulnerable residents struggling to obtain basic necessities.

The grants came from the Community Assistance Fund program, a charitable initiative of SDG&E funded by its shareholders that allocates $10 million to help improve services related to housing stability and food security.

“Beyond providing clean, safe and reliable energy service every day, SDG&E is also passionate about improving the lives of the communities we serve. With these grants, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to support the missions of several dedicated local organizations to help them expand their essential services that are so needed right now,” said SDG&E Executive Director Caroline Winn.

While inflation is slowing in the rest of the country, prices in the San Diego metro region continue to outpace other areas. The city’s inflation rate is the second highest in the United States. In addition, the region’s housing market consistently ranks as one of the least affordable in the country.

According to the San Diego Hunger Coalition, as of December 2022, 23% or nearly one in four county residents live in a household that does not have the funds to eat three healthy meals a day.

The grants will enable local nonprofits to expand a diverse array of essential programs, ranging from emergency rental assistance and legal advocacy for eviction prevention, to food distribution and meals for seniors. Grantees serve a diverse client base, including military families, seniors and refugees.

The Community Assistance Fund builds on SDG&E’s long history of giving back to local communities. Over the past 12 years, SDG&E has invested more than $100 million from shareholders to support workforce development, public safety, environmental stewardship and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) education, among other causes.