Camarillo, CA. - CSU Channel Islands (CI) announced the Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies (HLI) had recently received a grant for $60,000 from the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas).

The HLI is named for workforce and community leader Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo, who has served as an advisor to United States presidents and governors and is held in high esteem throughout the nation and abroad.

Dawn Neuman, CI’s Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, called the SoCalGas gift “foundation building” for the HLI Interns Program. The HLI Interns Program is designed to support community outreach, workforce training, and leadership development.

SoCalGas engages in philanthropic giving which focuses on supporting and engaging communities in its service areas. The company strives to work with community partners to support programs that help meet community needs in areas of environment, education, emergency preparedness and economic development.

“We are very pleased to support the important work of the Henry L. “Hank” Lacayo Institute for Workforce & Community Studies,” said Anne Shen Smith, Chief Operating Officer for Southern California Gas Company. “We also congratulate Hank for being recognized for his lifetime achievement and look forward to the Institute making a positive impact on the region.”

About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands (CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research.

Southern California Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 140 years. It is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 20.9 million consumers through nearly 5.8 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company’s service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout Central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. SoCalGas is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE). Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2010 revenues of $9 billion. The Sempra Energy companies’ nearly 16,000 employees serve about 26 million consumers worldwide.