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As We See It: Little progress on childhood obesity

Santa Cruz Sentinel
November 10, 2011

With California's childhood obesity epidemic untamed, it's good to see at least some adults are cutting back on snacks and sweets.

State senators agreed this week to stop spending taxpayer funds to feed themselves, after a newspaper report that legislators have spent more than $111,000 this year on food.

Alejandra's long walk in tough, old sneakers

Orange County Register
November 9, 2011
By Yvette Cabrer

Alejandra Aquino, 12, looked in the mirror, looked down at her shoes yet again, and made the call. Today she would wear the slightly battered, slightly tomboyish Converse sneakers – the black ones.

"I like it when they're old," she explained. "It shows you've been to many places."

Santa Cruz County seeking turnaround on childhood obesity

San Jose Mercury News
November 9, 2011
By Jondi Gumz (Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Santa Cruz County is among the 31 counties in California that have yet to turn the tide on childhood obesity, according to a UCLA report released Wednesday.

Statewide, however, progress is being made, with a 1 percent decline in overweight children in grades 5, 7, and 9 between 2005 and 2010.

Wotherspoon earns Nor Cal PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award

Lake County News
November 9, 2011

The Northern California Section of the PGA has announced that Mark Wotherspoon, PGA director of Golf of Buckingham Golf & Country Club in Kelseyville, has garnered the 2011 NCPGA Bill Strausbaugh Award.

Wotherspoon is being recognized for his leadership, mentoring and charitable involvement throughout the region.

Shaking up the status quo in L.A. schools

November 6, 2011
Los Angeles Times
By Steve Lopez

A disparate alliance called Don't Hold Us Back is calling on L.A. Unified and the teachers union to lay down their weapons in contract negotiations and hammer out some big-ticket reforms.

Six million, give or take. That's how many children are in public school in California.

Arguably, we won't have a strong economic future if they don't get a good education.

But boy, do the grown-ups love to muck things up for the kids.

Helping the homeless: Grants enable Tulare, Kings counties to provide shelter but money's almost gone

Visalia Times-Delta
November 5, 2011

James "Crazy Horse" Shore has spent half his life on the streets, rummaging through trash cans, sleeping in ditches and under overpasses and eating scraps from the trash container behind KFC.

He will die on the streets, he said, without hesitation. In predicting his fate, the 42-year-old man added that more than 20 years on the streets of California has taught him two things ìì how to fend for himself and that the homeless are in desperate need of resources.

PCM raises funds for OC United Way

Orange County Register
November 3, 2011

Professional Community Management of California, managing agent for Laguna Woods Village, has announced that it has raised about $16,000 for Orange County United Way through employee contributions during its annual fundraising drive this past week.

"Since our company was launched almost 40 years ago, we have placed a high value on contributing both time and financial support towards charitable efforts taking place in our communities," said Donny Disbro, CEO of Professional Community Management. "This commitment is alive and well today, as evidenced by the enthusiasm our employees have shown during this fundraising drive."

S.B. COUNTY: United Way volunteers upgrade classrooms

The Press Enterprise (Riverside, CA)
November 2, 2011

United Way partnered with Central City Lutheran Mission in San Bernardino for “Make a Difference Day” in order to renovate classrooms for the Mission’s after school program.

The event was hosted by Arrowhead United Way as part of their mission to support education and help improve the academic environmental setting for children in the after school program.

I’ve had to learn to walk again three times’

The Standard (Ontario, CA)
October 29, 2011
By Peter Downs

St. Catharines woman says support from United Way improves quality of life for those with MS

Three times Diane Hall has had to re-learn what most people have to learn only once when they are toddlers.

Three times the St. Catharines woman has had her mobility robbed by the debilitating disease she's lived with for more than 17 years.

And three times she's summoned the strength and willpower to put one foot in front of the other again and try to keep a step ahead of multiple sclerosis.

Foster Grandparents help students excel in classroom

The Valley Chronicle
October 28, 2011
By Jessica Self

At-risk student are in luck at Bautista Creek Elementary School. The Foster Grandparent group sponsored by the Central County United Way has five full-time seniors dedicated to the success of struggling students at the school.

The five women who volunteer at the school focus mostly on improving the reading skills of young students, beginning in first grade.

Making a difference in the San Jacinto Valley

The Valley Chronicle
October 28, 2011
By Bob Otto

Because of the sweat and toil of a small army of volunteers, selected areas of the San Jacinto Valley have far less trash, a fresh coat of paint, and a more appealing look.

About 100 volunteers from pre-teen to late in their senior years banded together last Saturday during the nationwide Make A Difference Day event. They indeed made a difference in the community they all call home.

Progressives Find Religion on LAUSD Reform

LA Weekly
October 27, 2011
By Hillel Aron

Last Tuesday, a contingent of Occupy L.A. marched toward the Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters on Beaudry, atop a hill overlooking the 101 freeway. It was a Fellini-esque parade, complete with V for Vendetta masks worn by the group Anonymous, a couple dressed as Aztec warriors, and even the suddenly infamous substitute teacher fired for anti-Semitic statements (she held a yellow sign reading, "Congress Should Print the Money NOT the Zionist Jews!").

But about half of the 100 marchers were an older bunch of generally out-of-shape adults wearing red T-shirts with the letters UTLA. They were members of the teachers union, United Teachers Los Angeles, and they were firmly in control of the march.

San Jacinto Valley: United Way toy drive begins

Press Enterprise
October 27, 2011
By Kevin Pearson

The Central County United Way will begin accepting donations for its Santa’s Workshop holiday toy drive beginning Tuesday.

The program is in its 13th year. Last year the organization donated toys to more than 600 children in the San Jacinto Valley.

Make A Difference Day provided 3,700 hours of making the Inland Empire a better place

Contra Costa Times
October 27, 2011

HandsOn Inland Empire, the volunteer initiative of Inland Empire United Way, led more than 500 volunteers last Saturday in giving back to local communities through National Make a Difference Day.

In total, 523 volunteers donated a combined 3,700 hours of time to the event, smashing previous records for a single IEUW Service Day.

Program in Solano County for foster youth wins award

The Reporter (Vacaville)
October 24, 2011

Money Matters -- a pioneering financial literacy initiative to help foster youth to be money wiser now and as adults -- has earned a 2011 California State Association of Counties Challenge Award.

"The winners are the foster youth who are getting a strong financial foundation that will last them a lifetime, but today's recognition goes to the community partners who came together to make this innovative idea a reality," said Supervisor Mike Reagan, chair of the Solano County Board of Supervisors.

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