Charitable Funding is Part of a Broader
$950,000 Commitment this Wildfire
Season
OAKLAND,
Calif., Aug. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Park
Fire –now one of the largest in state history—continues to threaten
homes and communities in Butte,
Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties, Pacific Gas and Electric
Company (PG&E) and The PG&E Corporation Foundation (The
Foundation) are providing charitable funding for emergency shelter,
food and other needs.
PG&E and The Foundation are contributing $50,000 to the North Valley Community
Foundation which provides grants to other nonprofit groups to
support immediate fire response needs; $35,000 to the North Valley Animal Disaster Group
for evacuation and shelter of small and large animals; and are
working with several other community groups in the impacted
counties that have requested funding.
"Our hearts are broken for the communities impacted by this
fire, and we're sensitive to the trauma that all residents in the
North Valley are suffering," said Alexa
Benson-Valavanis, North Valley Community Foundation
president and CEO. "We know there will be both immediate and
long-term needs as a result of the Park Fire, and we will be here
for as long as it takes. We cannot thank PG&E Foundation enough
for its generosity to help in that difficult recovery."
These charitable contributions are part of a larger $950,000 charitable funding commitment to bolster
wildfire preparedness, relief and recovery efforts in PG&E's
service area this wildfire season. So far this year, 778,000 acres
have burned in California
wildfires. That's compared to nearly 26,000 acres total last year,
and 166,200 acres on average the past five years.
Funding for local nonprofits and community-based organizations
prioritizes immediate response needs, food insecurity and
assistance for youth, focused on underserved communities. This
commitment supports PG&E's and The Foundation's goals of
preparing communities for natural disasters and responding to
hometowns in need.
"Sadly, many people impacted by the Park Fire have experienced
devastating wildfires before. We're grateful to those on the
frontlines – the courageous firefighters working to save homes and
put out the fire, and the nonprofits and their many volunteers who
give care and comfort to those who've had to evacuate or lost their
homes," said Joe Wilson, PG&E
Vice President, North Valley and Sierra.
American Red Cross Partnership
In addition to the $950,000 to
support wildfire relief and recovery efforts in 2024, The
Foundation is giving up to $750,000
to the American Red Cross (Red Cross) to support fire safety
preparedness in PG&E's service area through mid-2025, primarily
in elevated and extreme high wildfire risk communities, and for
emergency response when wildfires erupt.
"Keeping our customers and communities safe is PG&E's most
important responsibility. When disaster strikes, our crews are
working round-the-clock to restore power, just as our partners at
the American Red Cross are providing basic needs like shelter and
food to those impacted by the fire. And together, we're there for
the long-haul, helping communities recover and rebuild," said
Mark Quinlan, PG&E Senior Vice
President, Wildfire and Emergency Operations and American Red Cross
Northern California Coastal Region Board Member.
"PG&E's support of our disaster relief work is crucial to
making our mission possible, especially during large events like
the Park Fire," said Hanna Malak,
regional CEO of the Northern California Coastal Region. "Equally as
important is our work around preventing fires, both inside and
outside the home. The Foundation's gift toward fire safety and
preparedness will go a long way toward helping the Red Cross
fortify our communities against disasters like home fires. We are
grateful for their support."
Currently, The Foundation funding is helping serve Park Fire
evacuees in a Red Cross shelter in Tehama
county. More information on open Red Cross shelters
throughout California is available
here. You can donate to the American Red Cross relief efforts
here.
PG&E and The Foundation have supported the Red Cross for
more than 12 years for disaster relief, education and outreach.
PG&E's charitable donations come from PG&E shareholders
and other sources, not PG&E customers.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a
subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG), is a combined
natural gas and electric utility serving more than sixteen million
people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. For more information,
visit pge.com and pge.com/news.
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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company