Joining the American Red Cross to Honor 10 Local Heroes

At age 14, she has already proven herself in the real world by putting her leadership skills and emergency response training to help save lives. She’s a Girl Scout working toward the Girl Scout Gold Award (the equivalent of a Boy Scout Eagle), a member of the Young Marines youth service organization and a member the Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps at her school. The safety training she has under her belt includes first aid, CPR, and emergency response. She’s completed the Federal Emergency Response. Management Agency (FEMA)’s certification training.

She is Sophia Righthouse – a freshman at Westview High School in the Poway Unified School District. Today, it was our honor to honor Righthouse during the 16th Annual Real Heroes Breakfast, hosted by the American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties.

Dave Geier, our senior vice president of electric operations, and past chair of the local chapter’s Board of Directors, presented the Real Hero Award to Righthouse, who along with her dad evacuated dozens of residents from a burning apartment complex last November.

Righthouse was among ten individuals and organizations honored at today’s Real Heroes Breakfast, which celebrates those who have made a commitment to creating safer, stronger communities and providing help when disaster strikes.

Sophia’s Heroic Act: Evacuating A Burning Building

Last November, as Sophia and her dad, Brett, were driving by a complex on Black Mountain Road, she noticed a plume of smoke. The teen asked her dad to pull over and the two of them went door to door to evacuate residents.

When the San Diego City Council proclaimed Jan. 23, 2018 “Sophia M. Righthouse Day” in recognition of her effort, the teen told the San Diego Union-Tribune: “I was just a normal citizen who had taken training and was in the right spot in the right time.”

In media interviews, Righthouse has urged more people to get emergency response training so they can help their communities out during disasters.

Longstanding Partnership with American Red Cross

In addition to events like the Real Heroes Breakfast, SDG&E has a long-established partnership with the local Red Cross to help our communities get prepared for emergencies. For example, during National Preparedness Month in September, we partnered with the Red Cross to provide disaster education and to host emergency kit building events for local seniors.

Geier, our senior VP of electric operations, is a firm believer in regional collaboration to strengthen emergency preparedness for our entire community.

“I think all of us know there is no one company, there is no one organization that can really help our community get fully prepared… We are about working together,” said Geier, who spoke during the Real Heroes Breakfast.