OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is contributing $1 million to the American Red Cross to build safer, more disaster resilient communities across Northern and Central California. The donation was presented during last night’s (March 7) Golden State Warriors’ PG&E Title Night halftime show.

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“Last year, during one of the worst wildfire seasons in California history, the Red Cross was vital in helping communities recover. From clothing to food to housing, the Red Cross meets critical, basic needs when it counts the most. We’re proud of our decades-long partnership with the Red Cross, and to support its meaningful work across our service area,” said PG&E Vice President of Emergency Preparedness and Operations Barry Anderson.

The donation will be used to support the Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, a multi-year home safety program that will help save lives and enhance safety in underserved communities. Some of the program activities include door-to-door installation of smoke detectors and home-safety checklists, as well as in-classroom demonstrations on fire safety. More information on how to take advantage of this program can be found at www.pge.com/partnesinpreparedness.

"For over forty years, the vibrant partnership between the Red Cross and PG&E has provided critical disaster preparedness and response programs to the people of Northern and Central California. We are grateful for their continued support. This funding allows Red Cross to provide the tools like smoke alarms and preparedness education to make our communities safer, empower local residents with the skills, networks and supplies necessary to serve as leaders in times of emergency, and enhance the ability of the Red Cross to stand ready year-round to provide help and hope to hundreds of local disaster clients," said American Red Cross of Northern California Coastal Region CEO Trevor Riggen.

Local Warriors, a partnership between the 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors and PG&E, also teamed up with the American Red Cross this month to educate Bay Area students about disaster preparedness.

Warriors’ Guard Brandon Rush visited the Boys and Girls Club Columbia Park Clubhouse in San Francisco on March 2, and along with volunteers from Local Warriors and the Red Cross, built disaster preparedness kits that were distributed to club members. Children participated in a relay race to demonstrate how to safely and quickly evacuate a disaster area. PG&E and the Red Cross also presented Boys & Girls Club President Rob Connolly with emergency supplies for the Club.

“It was great to be a part of the Local Warriors Volunteer event to help educate youth on the importance of emergency preparedness. It is important for our youth to be prepared and know how to respond in case of a disaster,” said Warriors Guard Brandon Rush.

According to the Red Cross, someone in the U.S. dies in a home fire seven times a day. That statistic, combined with the risk of earthquakes and other disasters in California, makes having an emergency plan and kit crucial. For more information, visit http://www.redcross.org/local/ca/san-francisco.

About American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

About Golden State Warriors

For more information on the Warriors 2015-16 season, please visit www.nba.com/warriors.

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), and the PG&E Corporation Foundation strive to power strong communities throughout Northern and Central California. In 2015, PG&E contributed $25 million to more than 1,600 charitable organizations, including matching the generosity of employees and retirees who donated $7.9 million and volunteered approximately 87,000 hours to company-supported events. Community investments are funded entirely by the company’s shareholders. For more information, visit www.pge.com/community.

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Source: PG&E