The Loma Prietan
July/August 2001
Sierra Club Puts the Juice Back Into Youth Program Unplugged by PG&E
San Francisco—The Sierra Club’s Youth in Wilderness program announced today they will grant $25,000 to The San Francisco Conservation Corps (SFCC) to make up for the money suspended by Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E). At the same time, Sierra Club leaders challenged the utility’s parent corporation to make up for the $7 million in charitable giving the utility suspended.
“When PG&E pulled the plug on youth conservation programs, we knew we could re-energize the situation,” said Carl Pope, Executive Director of the Sierra Club. “We don’t generate electricity, but we do generate support for hands-on environmental education of inner city kids. However, we challenge PG&E Corporation to replace the $7 million of charitable giving their bankrupt utility just pulled. The parent company has millions more than our nonprofit Sierra Club.”
The SFCC employs youths for environmental programs in low-income areas and provides them job training and counseling. SFCC faced a $25,000 cut to their program when PG&E announced Monday suspension of support for community organizations. Few charitable organizations anticipated PG&E halting contributions.
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the utility, declared bankruptcy this year, while the parent company PG&E Corporation is making millions.
According to The Utility Reform Network, the utility transferred $4 billion to the parent Corporation between 1997-99 and transferred $632 million dollars in the first 9 months of 2000.
The Youth in Wilderness Project, a joint program of the Sierra Club and Sierra Club Foundation, is expanding opportunities for disadvantaged youth to experience the wilderness and nature first-hand. The Project specifically targets children living in low-income neighborhoods across California and provides opportunities for them to learn about the natural world that is seldom seen growing up in low-income areas.
Youth in Wilderness is a joint project of the Sierra Club and the Sierra Club Foundation. For more information, visit the website www.sierraclub.org/youthinwilderness.