On Saturday, Oct. 10, Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County (BBBS) held its annual gala, this year virtually. During the event, Sempra’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion Dawn Andrews was honored as a 2020 Big Champion. Dawn is a long-time supporter and advocate of youth mentoring and a BBBS board member. She was recognized alongside Jonathan Andrews of Andrews Lagasse Branch + Bell, LLP.

“We are so honored to be recognized by Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County. We are both so proud of the organization and of all it has accomplished for our communities, our ‘Littles’ and their families, and our ‘Bigs’, through one-on-one mentoring,” said Dawn.

Beyond school walls

Dawn was a driver in bringing the BBBS Beyond School Walls program to Sempra HQ in 2016. This nationwide mentoring program allows companies to give back to their community by hosting children from area schools in a real-life work and higher education environment.

Over the past four years, women employees from Sempra Energy, Sempra LNG and SDG&E have participated in the program, championing middle-school girls from Logan K-8 in Logan Heights.* Sempra’s partnership with BBBS has focused on STEM, pairing caring adult women (Bigs) with young girls (Littles). Girls who have participated in Beyond School Walls have reported improvement in school behavior, overall grades, self-esteem, communication skills and their desire to learn new things.

Through the program, the Littles have been introduced to an array of opportunities to grow as individuals and developed meaningful friendships with positive role models, and by serving as #BeThatGirl mentors, Sempra’s Bigs are shaping the future generation of leaders. The experience is truly meaningful to all.

*The program is currently paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic.