Maria Ventura. Courtesy photo.
VENTURA — SoCalGas Public Affairs Manager Maria Ventura has been selected by her peers on the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura (BGCGV) Board of Directors to serve as its Board President. Ventura has been a member of the BGCGV Board of Directors since Fall 2014, she will serve a two-year term as the board president ending December 2019.
In her role, as the local Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) representative throughout Ventura County, she serves on several community boards, BGCGV, El Concilio, American Red Cross of Central California, United Way of Ventura County and the Ventura County Economic Development Association (VCEDA).
She has received prestigious recognitions for her professional accomplishments and commitment to the community including Pacific Coast Business Times’ 2017 “Top 50 Women in Business” and Hispanic Lifestyle (an independently produced television program and event producer that promotes positive images of the Latino community) recognized her as a 2017 Latina of Influence.
“With over 15 years’ experience in communications, community and governmental affairs; she is a trailblazer, role model and true advocate for children and families. We are fortunate to have her on our team; further, she has the distinction of being the first Latina to serve as the board president” said Patti Birmingham, CEO Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura.
“I am excited to assume the board leadership role, after the devastating Thomas Fire, there is a profound determination to rebuild Ventura and grow stronger, this vision must embrace all our citizens including children and their families. I am proud to do our part to further enhance opportunities for local youth. I am grateful to my employer SoCalGas for fully supporting my work in the community”, said Maria Ventura.
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 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. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 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 Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura: For 80 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Ventura has provided a positive place for all youth, especially those who need us most, and quality programs to help them become healthy, responsible, confident and productive members of our community. The Club offers a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun, friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours to 1st – 12th graders. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. The Club currently has 4 locations (Oak View, West Ventura, East Ventura and Saticoy), that provide services to 1,200 members annually with a daily attendance of 550 youth. In addition, the Club provides services to approximate 800 youth per year, who are not members, but benefit from the use of the facilities or staff driven programs. According to an independent study by Dr. Jamshid Damooei of Cal Lutheran, 97% of club members are on track to graduate from High School, 92% have improved self-confidence, 83% have improved family relations.