For Immediate Release
September 21, 2001

Diana Ip, i.e. communications
(415) 616-3930

Diego de la Garza, TCWF
(818) 702-1978

TCWF GRANTEES PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS AT LOS ANGELES TIMES FESTIVAL OF HEALTH

TCWF Hosts Groups at its Pavilion

Los Angeles – Three organizations funded by The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) will participate in the third annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Health & Fitness, a free event open to the public to be held Saturday and Sunday, October 6-7, at the University of Southern California’s University Park campus.

The nonprofit organizations are: Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, St. John’s Well Child Center and Teen Line. TCWF is a major sponsor of the Festival and arranged for the organizations to present their health information at the Foundation’s pavilion.

Last year, the Festival drew more than 30,000 attendees. This year, the attendance is expected to reach 40,000 and will feature a variety of panels, informational booths and speakers addressing health and wellness issues.

“The Festival has increased in popularity from year to year, and once again we are happy to make possible the participation of three outstanding organizations,” said Gary Yates, TCWF president and chief executive officer. “Their work benefits the health and wellness of the diverse, and often undeserved, communities of Los Angeles.

Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance
Acknowledging the difficulty that many Asian and Pacific Islander men have in accessing health care because of long working hours and limited English proficiency, the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance (OCAPICA) recently created the Asian and Pacific Islander Men’s Health Program. The program aims to improve the health of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) men by providing linguistic access to services, increasing usage among men of early and consistent preventive health care services, and improving resources for the uninsured and underinsured, low-income men and their families. The program serves approximately 3,000 men each year.

“Many people, including those within the API community, are unaware of the health issues facing API men. Since the start of our program, recognition of men’s health needs has grown in the API community,” said Mary Anne Foo, executive director. “Additionally, our efforts have contributed to the increased awareness of men’s health needs among the broader community.”

The OCAPICA project will distribute materials about its men’s health program at the Festival. Representatives of the organization will also provide information about OCAPICA’s other programs and services.

St. John’s Well Child Center
This 40-year-old organization of free clinics provides medical and dental preventive and primary healthcare to children under the age of 18. With a no-fee policy and bilingual staff, St. John’s Well Child Center serves chronically underserved, uninsured and economically disadvantaged families. A full range of primary pediatric services are provided, including: complete physical examinations; hearing, vision and tuberculosis tests; immunizations for childhood diseases; pharmaceutical services; dental care; health education; nutrition; and detection of lead exposure. Most recently, the center started providing weekly classes on health-related issues such as asthma, drugs and alcohol and smoking.

“The Festival will be a great way to let the community know about our services,” said James Mangia, executive director. “Right now, a lot of people don’t know our services are free. Some people don’t know that they do not need identification or a social security number to get served.”

The center expanded its services to accommodate the growing demand. The number of patients has steadily increased over the years and currently it sees more than 65 patients each day. It is funded by TCWF through its Special Projects Fund.

Teen Line
Since 1994, Teen Line has published the Youth Yellow Pages, a resource handbook for Los Angeles area adolescents ages 12 through 19. Distribution of the resource guide has reached 800,000 since its first publication. The idea stemmed from the teen-to-teen hotline, which was created in 1981 as a place for teens to talk about their problems. Like the hotline, the Youth Yellow Pages provides resources on topics such as abuse, AIDS, alcoholism, depression, divorce, drugs, gangs, homelessness, homosexuality, pregnancy and suicide. Funding from TCWF’s Teenage Pregnancy Prevention priority area has helped further the organization’s mission of improving the well being of youth. Teen Line relies heavily on its highly trained, youth volunteer staff of approximately 100 who offer peer education and counseling.

“One of the most important things about our participation is that it shows teens volunteering and doing good things. You don’t hear enough about that – teens giving up their weekends and providing service for the community,” said Dr. Elaine Leader, executive director of the organization.

Youth volunteers from Teen Line will be available at the Foundation’s pavilion booth during the Festival. They will hand out information and show a video about the organization.

About the Foundation
The California Wellness Foundation is an independent, private foundation created in 1992, with a mission to improve the health of the people of California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education and disease prevention. The Foundation provides funding in eight priority areas: Diversity in the Health Professions, Environmental Health, Healthy Aging, Mental Health, Teenage Pregnancy Prevention, Violence Prevention, Women’s Health, and Work and Health. It also provides health-related funding through its Special Projects Fund. The Foundation has awarded 2,414 grants totaling more than $335 million since 1992. Information on the Festival can be found on the official Los Angeles Times Festival of Health site.

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