SOCIAL JUSTICE

California Restaurant Foundation

SoCalGas was a founding partner and lead sponsor of the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund in 2021. This fund provides critically needed grants to small business restaurants owned by women and people of color struggling since the start of the pandemic. In 2021, the fund supported 318 small restaurants. In 2022, SoCalGas provided additional funding that focused on the two things that keep a restaurant running - kitchens and crews. Grants of $3,000 could be used for retention bonuses or new kitchen equipment. With collective support from SoCalGas, San Diego Gas and Electric, Pacific Gas and Electric and Wells Fargo, 162 independently owned restaurants across Central and South California received grants in 2022 and year-long support services from Wells Fargo which provided restaurant owners with resources to enhance and streamline their business.

Gas Assistance Fund

SoCalGas provided $300,000 to United Way of Greater Los Angeles’ Gas Assistance Fund, a program that helps income-qualified customers pay their natural gas bills. United Way works with various nonprofit organizations throughout SoCalGas’ service territory, and helps customers pay their gas bill with a one-time grant of up to $100 per household. The program helps low-income customers avoid disconnections due to financial burden, ensuring that they can maintain utility which are critical to a livable environment for families to survive and thrive in. Additionally, by alleviating utility bill challenges early, we can ensure that arrears do not impact future connection services and impact debt and other opportunities for continued financial stability.