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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 02, 2004

Contact:
Craig Tomiyoshi, IW Group
(213) 239-8154

Cecilia Laiché, TCWF
(818) 702-1900

DEPARTING LEGISLATORS RECEIVE FIRST-EVER TCWF PUBLIC POLICY LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Dede Alpert, John Burton, Bruce McPherson and John Vasconcellos Honored for Championing Policies that Improve Californians’ Health

Sacramento — The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) will present its inaugural Public Policy Leadership Award to four visionary members of the California State Senate who have influenced millions of lives by advancing public policies that promote the health of Californians. The honorees are Sen. Dede Alpert, President pro Tem John Burton, Sen. Bruce McPherson and Sen. John Vasconcellos. The four departing legislators will receive their awards at a ceremony in Sacramento on August 3, 2004.

“I don’t think that people hear often enough about the significant contributions made by our legislators,” said Gary L. Yates, TCWF president and CEO. “These four policymakers deserve to be recognized as champions for the health of the underserved.”

Sen. Dede Alpert, who devoted more than 20 years to public service, is being recognized for her advocacy in women’s health and violence prevention — especially among youth. She has consistently stressed health and safety issues for women and children. An example of her public policy leadership includes introducing landmark legislation that has expanded access to emergency contraception and breast cancer detection services. Sen. Alpert created the Battered Women’s Protection Act and the Child Abuse Task Force and has been a staunch proponent of youth mentoring and development programs — strategies that have successfully reduced violence against youth.

Sen. John Burton, who has spent 40 years in public service, is being recognized for his leadership in promoting the health and safety of California’s most underserved populations. He has focused on a range of health care issues including access to care, mental health and the prevention of violence and substance abuse. He has championed legislation that provides health insurance coverage for California’s workers, improved care for the mentally ill homeless and strengthened the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Supplemental Nutrition Program. He was elected president pro tem in 1998 and has been a formidable force against budget cuts to health and welfare programs. A longtime supporter of violence prevention, Sen. Burton’s advocacy ensured that juvenile crime prevention programs received historic levels of support.

Sen. Bruce McPherson, who has worked for more than 11 years in public service, is being recognized for his efforts to promote school-based health and wellness and prevent injury and death caused by violence — especially among youth. During his legislative career he has consistently emphasized school-based health and violence prevention strategies. He has sponsored legislation that placed additional school nurses in public schools throughout the state and improved school counseling programs. Another major achievement was the After-School Safety and Enrichment Program, which greatly increased access to supervised activities during the critical after-school hours when research indicates that youth are most likely to be victims of violent crime.

Sen. John Vasconcellos, who has devoted more than 40 years to public service, is being recognized for his advocacy to prevent violence against youth and promote healthy aging. Examples of his legislative legacy include improving the delivery and coordination of care for seniors, expanding access to in-home supportive and long-term care services and examining the impending impacts of California’s aging society on systems of care. Sen. Vasconcellos has advanced policies to improve school safety and enhance youths’ self esteem and resiliency to risk factors, control access to guns and provide mental health and vocational training services for juvenile offenders — strategies that have solid track records for reducing violence against youth.

“It is an honor to recognize these dedicated legislators who exemplify the spirit of public service and commitment to the health and wellness of their constituents — and all Californians,” said Ruth Holton, TCWF’s director of public policy.

The Public Policy Leadership Award recognizes termed-out legislators who have championed public policies that promote the health of underserved Californians. 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 prioritizes eight issues for funding: 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 responds to timely issues or special projects outside the funding priorities.

Since its first year of operation, TCWF has awarded 3,598 grants totaling more than $438 million. It is one of the state’s largest private foundations, providing an average of $40 million in grants each year in pursuit of its mission.

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Note to reporters & editors: “The” in The California Wellness Foundation name is part of the Foundation’s legal name. Please do not drop or lowercase the “T.”