Employees of Pacific Gas and Electric Company contributed to Hurricane Katrina relief by donating their vacation hours and cash totaling $619,934, with the utility contributing $100,000, bringing a donation total of $719,934 to the American Red Cross. PG&E also contributed $50,000 to other, local charities for hurricane relief.

"I want to applaud the generosity of PG&Eers," said Gordon R. Smith, president and chief executive officer of the utility. "More than 500 employees donated vacation time and many employees were involved in collecting contributions."

Smith presented a ceremonial check to Harold Brooks, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross Bay Area Chapter, at a meeting on Thursday of PG&E employees. PG&E made the first of many contributions to the Red Cross's hurricane relief effort starting in September.

PG&E has a long history of making charitable grants tailored to the needs of the wide variety of communities it serves. The company's charitable contributions program provides cash grants, in-kind contributions, and volunteers for community-based nonprofit organizations, and for schools and other governmental programs throughout northern and central California. All charitable contributions are entirely funded by the company's shareholders.