(Sacramento, Calif.) – As part of its $8 million commitment to capital-region youth, Sierra
Health Foundation’s REACH program has awarded $4.2 million in grants to seven communities
to help improve the lives of young people.

The grant dollars will be distributed over the next three years among seven coalitions
that serve the communities of El Dorado Hills, Galt, Meadowview, Rancho Cordova, South
Sacramento, West Sacramento and Woodland. Each coalition will receive $600,000 over the
next three years to make community-wide changes for youth to ensure they are safe and
healthy, have positive relationships with caring adults, have meaningful opportunities to
participate in the community and develop the skills they need to be successful. The
communities will make these changes through youth councils, service learning, activism,
mentoring, arts, job readiness and a variety of other youth-led opportunities.

“We know that youth are more likely to become healthy, productive adults when they are
connected to adults who care about them and when they have engaged in their community and
their school,” explains Len McCandliss, Sierra Health Foundation president. “The REACH
program is pleased to support these coalitions as they begin implementing their strategies to
make their communities healthier places for youth.”

REACH coalitions are calling out to schools, faith-based organizations, local businesses
and individual members of the community to help make positive changes for youth. Sierra
Health will hold a regional youth conference in Sacramento on July 10, which will address
community change for youth. To learn more, visit www.sierrahealth.org .
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Katy Pasini
May 17, 2007 Office: 916-563-2404
Cell: 916-601-0067

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Sierra Health Foundation is a private philanthropy promoting improved health and quality of life for the people of
Northern California.

REACH Community Action Coalition Contacts

Sacramento ACT Meadowview Partnership
Austin Aslan (916) 251-6096 x16 austin@sacact.org
Alli Swan (916) 559-7614 x17 alli@sacact.org
Jim Keddy (916) 447-7959 x13 jim@picocalifornia.org
Cordova Community Collaborative for Healthy Children and Families
Nicole Jarred (916) 851-1665 nicole.jarred@gmail.com
Paul Shane (916) 638-7369 fccped@gmail.com
Galt Area Youth Coalition
John Durand (916) 683-1703 jdurand@galt.k12.ca.us
Janet Munoz (209) 745-2641 x558 jmunoz@galt.k12.ca.us
Patricia St. James (209) 744-4502 pstjames@galt.k12.ca.us
South Sacramento Coalition for Future Leaders
Brandon Kitagawa (916) 453-8400 x42 brandon@mutualhousing.com
Rachel Iskow (916) 453-8400 x24 rachel@mutualhousing.com
Vision Coalition of El Dorado Hills
DJ Peterson (916) 828-5087 djpeterson99@sbcglobal.net
Raeann Jones (916) 224-1650 raeann.jones@comcast.net
West Sacramento Youth Resources Coalition
Yaminah Bailey (916) 371-1966 yaminahb@communicarehc.org
Karen Larsen (916) 371-1966 karenl@communicarehc.org
Robin Affrime (530) 753-3498 robina@communicarehc.org
Woodland Coalition for Youth
Rogelio Villagrana (530) 406-7221 rvillagrana@yolofrc.org
Sarah Rock (530) 406-7221 rockinc@dcn.org
5.17.07

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