Last Updated on February 5, 2004 by Paulette Brown-Hinds

Jim King, public affairs manager for Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company®), was elected last month to a two-year term as chairman of the Inland Empire March of Dimes, which covers all of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

“Jim gives our board strong leadership skills and extensive experience in our organization, thanks to his achievements in a variety of positions,” said Rita Rogers, division director of the Inland Empire March of Dimes.

“Prior to his current assignment, he held the position of vice chairman of the Inland Empire March of Dimes, and he’ll continue to serve as secretary for our Southern California executive committee.”

The March of Dimes unites researchers, volunteers, educators, outreach workers and advocates to help in the fight against premature births, birth defects and low birthweights.

King’s top priority as Inland Empire chairman will be the March of Dimes’ nationwide prematurity campaign, which seeks to raise $75 million over five years. The money will address the country’s increasing rate of premature births through research, education, community service and advocacy.

King will also lead Inland Empire’s participation in the March of Dimes’ nationwide WalkAmerica campaign, an annual fundraiser held every spring. For more information, log on to www.walkamerica.com.

King, a 35-year employee with The Gas Company, has held dozens of leadership positions in community organizations–including the United Way, the Black Culture Foundation, and various chambers of commerce and economic development councils. From 1996 to 1999 he was a national trustee for the Urban League, a social service and civil rights organization.

He earned three consecutive C-Flag (“We Can, We Care”) awards from the White House for helping The Gas Company form a public/private partnership with the low-income community.

He was named humanitarian of the year in 1990 by the Black Culture Foundation and one of the twelve most influential Blacks in the Inland Empire by the Precinct Reporter.