The Friends of Ballona Wetlands received a $30,000 grant from Southern California Edison to help the organization continue its stewardship and protection of the environmentally sensitive Ballona Wetlands area.

The Friends in turn designated Edison as the official 2010 sponsor of the Restoration Days, the fourth Saturday of each month, when the Friends lead groups of volunteers in restoring native dune habitat at the western border of the 600-acre Ballona Wetlands State Ecological Reserve. The work is performed under special permits granted by the California Department of Fish and Game, and the California Coastal Commission.

This marks the second consecutive year that Edison has awarded the non-profit a grant. “Last year Edison’s generous gift was used to extend our community outreach and education programs,” said Lisa Fimiani, executive director of the Friends. “This year we thought it would be great to give something back with their second grant, by honoring Edison as our official sponsors during habitat restoration days in the wetlands.” 

Friends of Ballona Wetlands was formed in 1978, and has a dual mission of educating the public and representing the community during the state-sponsored restoration of the Reserve, which provides crucial habitat for hundreds of species of birds and other wildlife, as well as open space for the public.  

“Southern California Edison is committed to improving the environment for communities we serve by supporting organizations like Friends, which engage the public in preserving our natural resources and educating our youth,” said David Kay, manager of environmental projects for Edison.  “We’ve been impressed for some time with the depth and breadth of the Friends’ education efforts, which encompass all ages, from kindergarten to senior citizens — a total of 65,000 volunteers since 1994.”

“Friends is once again very excited to have the support of Edison,” Fimiani said. “This year it was especially fun to have volunteer Edison employees come out and give a day of service in the wetland.”

One of those employees was Edison’s manager and senior archaeologist, Philippe Lapin, who described the uses of some of the stone artifacts discovered in the wetlands during the Friends’ restoration efforts over the past three decades. “Edison understands the impact businesses have on the community and how giving back helps improve the quality of life of its customers,” he said.

Friends of Ballona Wetlands works in partnership with the California Coastal Conservancy and the California Department of Fish and Game, which have authority over the state-owned Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve.

Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.

The Friends of Ballona Wetlands attempts to champion the restoration and protection of the Wetlands, involving and educating the public as advocates and stewards.  Each year, the group hosts up to 6,500 visitors for interpretive tours and hands-on dunes restoration.

For more information, go to ballonafriends.org.