Comunicados de Prensa

Release Date: 14 de febrero, 2007
Contact: Mariana Hernandez (415) 972-5966

Empleados Y Retirados De PG&E. Big-Hearted PG&E Employees/Retirees Raise Millions For Charity During Annual ‘Campaign For The Community’ Drive PG&E Employees and Retirees Support 3,500 Nonprofit Organizations

SACRAMENTO – The numbers are in, and Pacific Gas and Electric Company employees and retirees have pledged $3.3 million – an 18 percent increase over the last year – to 3,500 nonprofit organizations through the company’s 2007 Campaign for the Community.

One big-hearted PG&E contributor is 35-year employee Art Cutler, an Angels Camp senior service clerk. For the last five years, Cutler has offered financial support to Oakdale’s Children’s Guardian Home, which is a residential shelter for young victims of abuse and neglect. Steadily increasing his donation each year, Cutler hit a new level of generosity this year when he pledged $20,000 to the home through PG&E’s Campaign for the Community. In doing this, Cutler became the company’s largest non-officer campaign donor. He is also now one of Guardian Home’s biggest private benefactors, with total donations of $65,000.

“Art’s our guardian angel,” said Elsie Martin, who co-founded the children’s home with her late husband Augie Martin. “Art’s generosity makes it possible for the children we serve to have a chance for a happy childhood of their own.”

The $3.3 million in individual contributions have been directed by employees and retirees to go to a variety of organizations and programs, including the REACH (Relief for Energy Assistance through Community Help) program, Salvation Army, Red Cross, United Way, children’s charities, hospitals, hospice, schools and many other community groups.

One-time gifts and payroll deduction pledges for this year were made by 7,200 employees and retirees. The average annual gift pledge from employees is $473. Many of these pledges will be matched by the company, putting even more funds into local communities.

"PG&E employees and retirees have a long and inspiring tradition of giving back to the communities where they live and work," said Ophelia Basgal, PG&E vice president of civic partnership and community initiatives. “They make a powerful contribution to their local neighborhoods by giving generous monetary contributions through Campaign for the Community, as well as volunteering thousands of hours every year to organizations and causes important to them.”

PG&E employees also used a number of creative special event fundraisers, including book and food sales, silent auctions and tour of duty slide shows. These events raised nearly $38,000 for charity, which is a 60 percent increase over last year.

In addition to the PG&E employees’ annual fund drive, Pacific Gas and Electric Company has a long history of making charitable grants tailored to the needs of the wide variety of communities it serves. The company's charitable contributions program provides cash grants, in-kind contributions, and volunteers for community-based nonprofit organizations, and for schools and other governmental programs throughout northern and central California. The company’s charitable contributions are entirely funded by shareholders, and do not affect rates for electricity or gas.

For more information about Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s charitable contributions program, please go to www.pge.com/giving