Erin Brockovich

More than 1,000 women and men will gather Feb. 22 for the YWCA’s seventh annual fund-raising luncheon, “In the Company of Women.” The event will feature Erin Brockovich, whose investigation and subsequent legal triumph over Pacific Gas & Electric Co. was portrayed in a blockbuster movie.

Started by the YWCA in Seattle and introduced to the YWCA San Diego in 1999, the luncheon is designed to engage women in the practice of philanthropy. “It is not only a major fund-raiser, but also a way to bring women — and men — together and renew interest in the YW’s programs,” says Pamela M. Hamilton, executive vice president of Centre City Development Corp. and luncheon chair. “The lunch always makes me feel good when I hear the personal stories of the people whose lives have been helped by the programs at the YW.”

Brockovich was working as a file clerk with a law firm in California when she discovered that a chemical had leaked into the groundwater from the nearby Pacific Gas & Electric Co., making hundreds of nearby residents sick. In 1996, Brockovich and a co-worker successfully spearheaded a lawsuit against the utility company resulting in the largest legal settlement in U.S. history. No longer a file clerk, Brockovich serves as director of environmental research at the same law firm, and is currently involved in several other environmental lawsuits. She has received a number of awards and honors for her work.

The YW is still looking to fill its roster of table captains. Each captain is asked to bring nine guests who will each make a minimum donation of $100. All proceeds from the event help the YWCA’s programs for victims of domestic violence and homelessness.

The luncheon is from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the San Diego Convention Center. For information, visit ywcasandiego.org or contact Suzanne McClain at (619) 239-0355 ext. 218 or smcclain@ywcasandiego.org.

— Maya Ellman