Southern California Gas Company Provides Veteran Scholarship to Leadership Pasadena

Leadership Pasadena (LP) has received a $5,000 grant from SoCalGas to provide a full scholarship for one military veteran to participate in LP’s comprehensive 8-month community leadership development program for 2021.

The San Gabriel Valley is home to the largest population of veterans throughout Los Angeles County and there is a need for courses that support veterans in translating their military skills to the civilian sector. LP supports our veterans in successfully integrating into their post-military life and powerfully transitioning from military service to civilian life through community service and leadership.

“SoCalGas stepped in 2017 and was one of our founding corporate sponsors along with The Ahmanson Foundation to expand our program to serve our military veterans. SoCalGas not only made a financial donation each of the last two years but their Public Affairs Manager Helen Romero Shaw comes to training sessions and meets with our participants.  SoCalGas is a true partner to our veterans who we appreciate tremendously,” per Cindy Bengtson, Leadership Pasadena’s retiring Executive Director.

“SoCalGas is pleased to provide this grant to Pasadena Leadership in support of its Veterans Scholarship Program.  We believe in investing in our military veterans to leverage their unique skills and experiences and to help them transition to civilian life.  Now more than ever, we need more thoughtful and collaborative leaders to rebuild and fortify our community. – Trisha Muse, Community Relations Director, SoCalGas.

Incoming Executive Director, Kaya Plansker says, “In this time of heightened discussion around community care and social justice, we believe a leadership program that integrates veteran and civilian participants gives our community a chance to tackle multiple, complex perspectives on what it means to lead with empathy and perspective.”

The LP course will help vets excel in civilian community leadership roles to build a new healthier, equitable and collaborative future for the greater Pasadena community.

For more information about the course, contact Kaya Plansker at info@leadershippasadena.org or go to www.leadershippasadena.org