SAN LEANDRO (Aug. 1, 2013) – A $75,000 grant to REACH Ashland Youth Center, for a project to prevent drug and alcohol abuse among young people, was announced today by Kaiser Permanente Senior Vice President and Area Manager Tom Hanenburg.
During a special event called “Somethin ‘bout My Body,” at the new youth center, Hanenburg announced the strategic grant from the Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program in southern Alameda County. The event was attended by youth from Ashland, community and public officials, and senior leaders from Kaiser Permanente.
“Through the Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program, we support a variety of programs that help youth in our local communities to improve their health, nutrition and physical activity, to learn how to prevent violence and bullying, and to channel their energies into positive behaviors,” Hanenburg said. “Our commitment to our local communities is embedded in our mission to improve the health of the communities we serve.”
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This strategic grant will fund a new project called “Real Talk & Relationships Lift Us.” The goal of the project is to prevent drug and alcohol abuse and educate youth by providing services and activities that are holistic, healing, build capacity and develop leadership skills.
Earlier this year, the REACH Ashland Youth Center received a $30,000 Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit grant to start a peer health education project addressing reproductive and sexual health needs of youth members in this center.
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In March, the youth center also received in-kind services from Kaiser Permanente’s Northern California Community Benefit Program to produce a video tour of the facility and a printed brochure for fundraising and involvement.
This past year, Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program invested $536,000 into 34 programs serving local communities right in southern Alameda County.
“Being healthy. Having fun. Learning something. And doing something good in the world,” said Vassilisa Johri, director of Health & Wellness for the youth center. “That’s what we do here and today, Kaiser Permanente is going to walk us through a beautiful day that involves all of these things.”
Johri thanked Kaiser Permanente and the community for the support which allows the youth center to bring Ashland kids connected to much needed health, educational and recreational services.
The day’s events kicked off with Lotería, an interactive game and performance by Kaiser Permanente Educational Theater actors, based on the Latin American version of Bingo with a healthy twist. The game included kid-friendly, digestible information on healthy activity, the importance of eating fruits and vegetables.
During the afternoon breakout session, the Kaiser Permanente Educational Theater presented a special workshop on its award-winning program, “Secrets,” which uses the power of live theater for an educational session about HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases. The breakout session also included Zumba exercise classes.
The event wrapped up with a viewing of the Kaiser Permanente-sponsored HBO documentary “Weight of the Nation for Kids,” followed by a discussion with Kaiser Permanente Hayward Pediatrician, Dr. Paul Espinas.
“This is a much-needed gathering space for the youth of Ashland where they can be safe and healthy,” said Dr. Robert Greenberg, Physician-In-Chief for Kaiser Permanente in southern Alameda County. “We are proud to support REACH Ashland Youth Center.”
