Boys & Girls Clubs Host Fall 2017 Showcase with Artwork and Performances by Members of Its Arts Academy

SAN PEDRO, Calif. - Dec. 11, 2017 - PRLog -- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor (BGCLAH) recently hosted its Fall 2017 Arts Academy Showcase, featuring music and dance performances, art and photo galleries and a screening of a documentary created by members of the Club's Arts Academy.

More than 125 young artists displayed their talents to an audience full of family members, friends, donors and community members at Los Angeles Harbor College. For photos of the event, click here.

"Central to our mission is enabling young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens," said Mike Lansing, executive director of BGCLAH. "Participation in the Arts Academy helps Club members reach that potential and allows them to freely express themselves creatively and develop necessary skills in critical thinking that will serve them for many years to come."

Through its Arts Academy, BGCLAH provides fine arts programming, including instruction, mentoring, exposure and performance opportunities, to 1400 middle and high school youth throughout the Los Angeles Harbor annually. The academy provides low-income, at-risk and disadvantaged youth with free introductory through advanced arts instruction, performance opportunities and art exposure in a variety of art disciplines, such as fine arts, music, dance, photography, 3D modeling and game design.

SoCalGas Funds Transportation Costs for Club Members

This season, Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) provided funding for BGCLAH's Transportation Program in part, which enabled BGCLAH to provide more than 500 youth per day with free and safe transportation to Clubhouses across San Pedro, Lomita, Harbor City and Wilmington.

Without this transportation, many Club members would not be able to access BGCLAH's Arts Academy and other programs focused on building academic, leadership and athletic skills.

"The Transportation Program is a key component is providing our youth the hand up they need to succeed," said Lansing. "SoCalGas' support of this program has been essential to making our kids' dreams come true."

"BGCLAH offers premiere youth development programs that help young people succeed in and outside the classroom," said Faviola Ochoa, a SoCalGas public affairs manager. "SoCalGas is proud to support the Transportation Program and help provide a critical element in the Boys and Girls Clubs experience."

The SoCalGas Solar Water Heating campaign funded the Transportation Program through a special advertising program with CBS EcoMedia. SoCalGas offers incentives for homeowners and businesses who install qualified solar water heating systems, which help reduce energy and save money. For more information on solar water heating, click here.

About the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor

True to its mission since 1937, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor is a nonprofit organization that helps young people reach their full potential with enrichment programs in academics, arts and athletics. Presently the Club serves over 11,000 youth annually at 13 sites in San Pedro and Wilmington. More information can be found at www.bgclaharbor.org.

About SoCalGas

Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas® is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States, providing clean, safe, affordable and reliable natural gas service to 21.7 million customers in Central and Southern California. Its service territory spans 22,000 square miles from Fresno to the Mexican border, reaching more than 550 communities through 5.9 million meters and 101,000 miles of pipeline. More than 90 percent of Southern California single-family home residents use natural gas for home heat and hot water. In addition, natural gas plays a key role in providing electricity to Californians—about 60 percent of electric power generated in the state comes from gas-fired power plants.

SoCalGas has served communities in California for 150 years and is committed to being a leader in the region's clean energy future. The company has committed to spending $6 billion over the next five years to modernize and upgrade its gas infrastructure, while also reducing methane emissions. SoCalGas is working to accelerate the use of renewable natural gas, a carbon-neutral or carbon-negative fuel created by capturing and conditioning greenhouse gas emissions from farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants. The company is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom (https://www.socalgas.com/newsroom) or connect with SoCalGas on Twitter (https://twitter.com/socalgas) (@SoCalGas), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/socalgas/) (@SoCalGas) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/SoCalGas/).