LOS ANGELES, Oct. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Distance learning
has brought to light a number of equity challenges facing many
Los Angeles County students and
their families. One challenge that stands out is the lack of wifi
connectivity to allow adequate access to at home learning and other
resources.
The YMCA-LA and SoCalGas have partnered to provide free
unlimited internet access to outdoor spaces at 20 Y branches
throughout Los Angeles. This
initiative is funded via a generous donation made by SoCalGas of
$60,000 and provides in-need
communities with this vital utility.
"We greatly appreciate the generosity of SoCalGas," said
Mario Valenzuela, Vice President of
Equity and Inclusion, YMCA-LA. "Their donation allows us to give
in-need communities equal access to the internet and in turn equal
opportunities as everyone else to learn and thrive."
The goal of the initiative is to bridge the digital divide with
free wifi connectivity to support distance learning, offer career
counseling, tele-health resources, job opportunities and other
necessary resources to thrive in today's current climate.
The program kicks off on October
19 with four Y branches: Weingart East Los Angeles Family
YMCA; Weingart YMCA Wellness & Aquatic Center; Wilmington
Family YMCA; and Montebello-Commerce Family YMCA. An additional 16
branches will follow in the next few weeks with all branches
operational by November.
"SoCalGas and the YMCA share the common goal of improving the
quality of life in the communities in which we serve. We are proud
to partner with the Y to help close the digital divide and provide
free public wifi to all," said Cedric
Williams, Vice President of Customer Services for SoCalGas
and YMCA Board Member. "This initiative will open the doors of
opportunity to many Angelenos, in particular students, jobseekers,
and those in need of tele-health resources."
Internet access is unlimited and availability is in line with
branch hours. Visit ymcala.org to find wifi locations and
information.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los
Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest gas distribution
utility in the United
States. SoCalGas delivers affordable, reliable, clean and
increasingly renewable gas service to 21.8 million customers
across 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern
California, where more than 90 percent of residents use natural gas
for heating, hot water, cooking, drying clothes or other uses. Gas
delivered through the company's pipelines also plays a key role in
providing electricity to Californians— about 45 percent of
electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired
power plants.
SoCalGas' vision is to be the cleanest gas utility
in North America, delivering
affordable and increasingly renewable energy to its customers. In
support of that vision, SoCalGas is committed to replacing 20
percent of its traditional natural gas supply with renewable gas by
2030. Renewable natural gas is made from waste created by dairy
farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. SoCalGas is also
committed to investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while
keeping bills affordable for our customers. From 2014 through 2018,
the company invested nearly $6.5 billion to upgrade and
modernize its pipeline system to enhance safety and reliability.
SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), an
energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more
information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect with
SoCalGas
on Twitter (@SoCalGas), Instagram (@SoCalGas)
and Facebook.
About the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles:
Since the pandemic crisis YMCA-LA has been supporting the community
by providing over 750,000 Grab & Go meals to kids and teens and
their families, delivering tens of thousands of meals to homebound
seniors and providing 25,000+ hours of free child care to emergency
responders and essential workers. They have leveraged their
facilities to provide nearly 15,000 showers for the homeless and
are hosting over 70 blood drives to ensure LA County's
blood supply is ready for all of our needs. The Y also wishes to
thank their members for their commitment. Without them, the Y could
not have provided the level of community support during these
difficult times. For more information on YMCA-LA programs
visit www.ymcala.org
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Company