FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 27, 1999

For further information, contact:
Susan G. Zepeda
Chief Executive Officer
Phone: 714-245-1650
Fax: 714-245-1653

FIVE LOCAL PROGRAMS TO RECEIVE "HEALTHY ORANGE COUNTY" AWARDS

September 27, 1999 - The HealthCare Foundation for Orange County has awarded funding to five innovative local programs, to assist them in addressing health needs of low-income families in central Orange County.

The Santa Ana-based M.O.M.S. program, received a 6-month planning grant ($9,672) to design a comprehensive class for mothers and babies, to help identify developmental delays and teach mothers strategies to enhance their infants' growth and development.

The Orange County Child Abuse Prevention Center obtained $10,000 to support expansion of their "Welcome Baby" program, offering low-income first-time parents temporary support to help ease the adjustment following the birth of a new baby.

Funding to the Pediatric Adolescent Diabetes Research & Education (PADRE) Program will go to support Nutrition Classes in English and Spanish ($5400), for low-income families who have one or more children diagnosed with Type I Diabetes. Classes will provide recipes, food preparation demonstrations, and tips for measuring portions and carbohydrates.

STOP-GAP will receive $9,975 to underwrite the costs of 21 interactive teen presentations in central Orange County schools, helping students deal with issues of teen pregnancy prevention, "date rape" prevention, HIV/AIDS, substance abuse and family alcohol problems.

Support also went to the Tustin Community Foundation's TAFFY Collaboration, a 22-member agency partnership, to help underwrite the costs of needed pediatric dental care for low-income families ($5000).

The HealthCare Foundation for Orange County is a private, nonprofit foundation, funded by the proceeds of the sale of United Western Medical Centers to Tenet. The Foundation's charitable mission, approved by the Court in July 1999, is to assist low-income families in central Orange County to obtain needed health information and treatment.

Proposals under the "Healthy Orange County" grants program are reviewed quarterly. The cut-off date for the next round of applications is October 15, 1999. Further information on the program may be obtained by calling (714) 245-1650.