PG&E helping Napa County organizations assist those impacted by wildfires

Dec. 23--Pacific Gas & Electric Company officials have informed several organizations about donations the utility company is making as part of its commitment to supporting Napa Valley and its focus on helping fire-ravaged areas rebuild, company spokeswoman Deanna Contreras said.

PG&E officials announced they are donating more than $170,000 to several organizations in Napa County that are helping residents in fire-impacted areas, she said. The donation is part of the company's efforts to help rebuild by partnering with organizations to improve resilience, she said.

"Donations to community-based organizations are one way we support our customers. These organizations provide a variety of crucial services that are essential after a major disaster such as the wildfires," Senior Manager for PG&E's North Bay and Sonoma Divisions Dave Canny said.

Some of the organizations playing key roles as communities respond, rebuild and become resilient, include:

--Lighthouse for the Blind -- $25,000 to the Enchanted Hills Camp and Retreat in Mt. Veeder to help purchase a generator for its long-term emergency shelter.

--Marin Builders Association -- $10,000 for its trade school scholarship fund.

--Mentis -- $20,000 for mental health support.

--Napa Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation -- $10,000 for general recovery support.

--Napa Communities Firewise Foundation -- $20,000 to help prepare citizens for wildfires.

--Napa-Lake Workforce Investment Board -- $20,000 for job training and placement of displaced workers.

--Napa United Soccer -- $10,000 for assistance to low-income and displaced families.

--Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center -- $25,000 for its efforts to support Spanish-speaking customers impacted by the wildfires.

--UpValley Family Centers -- $30,000 to help support families in Calistoga and St. Helena.

PG&E also granted the Land Trust of Napa County $25,000 as part of its Better Together Resilient Communities grant for the Land Trust's watershed restoration plan, Contreras said.

"We are fortunate to be able to work toward conservation and resilience in this wonderful community. While we do have additional work to do in response to fire impacts, this contribution from PG&E will also help toward a number of other restoration and stewardship projects as well," Land Trust of Napa County Stewardship Program Manager Mike Palladini said.

PG&E recently expanded its Better Together Resilient Communities grant program, doubling funding to $2 million over five years, and is now funding four projects annually --focused on land and forestry management, Contreras said. The firm also contributed $1 million in shareholder funds to launch the "California Climate Challenge," a new corporate-giving initiative dedicated to helping communities be more resilient in the face of climate change, she said.

Contact Rachel Raskin-Zrihen at (707) 553-6824.

___

(c)2017 Times-Herald (Vallejo, Calif.)

Visit Times-Herald (Vallejo, Calif.) at www.timesheraldonline.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.