October 22, 2009

Health-Sector Nonprofit Executives Receive 2009 TCWF Sabbatical Program Award

Foundation Funding Supports Eight Nonprofit Health Organizations With $35,000 Grants To Cover Chief Executives’ Paid Time Off

October 5, 2009

The California Wellness Foundation Announces 2009 California Peace Prize Honorees

Unsung Heroes To Receive $25,000 Cash Awards for Violence Prevention Work

June 3, 2009

Mentors Who Support Students Receive TCWF Champions of Health Professions Diversity Award

Guillermo J. Camacho, Shirley Flores-Muñoz and Tomás A. Magaña awarded $25,000 each for leadership in increasing diversity in the health professions

February 23, 2009

The California Wellness Foundation Announces New Board Appointments

The Board of Directors of The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) today announced four new appointments

November 12, 2008

Three Community Leaders To Receive TCWF’s 2008 California Peace Prize

$25,000 Cash Awards Honor Unsung Heroes of Violence Prevention

November 6, 2008

Health-Sector Nonprofit Executives Receive 2008 TCWF Sabbatical Program Awards

Foundation Funding Supports Eight Nonprofit Health Organizations with $35,000 Grants to Cover Chief Executives’ Paid Time Off

October 24, 2008

TCWF Appoints Program Director

Frank A. Lalle Assigned to Foundation’s Special Projects Grantmaking

August 12, 2008

Departing Legislators Receive Foundation Recognition for Leadership In Policy Arena

Senators Sheila Kuehl and Jack Scott Receive 2008 TCWF Public Policy Leadership Award

June 2, 2008

Higher Education Leaders Receive TCWF Champions of Health Professions Diversity Award

San Francisco (CA) — Three extraordinary higher education leaders will be honored as the 2008 Champions of Health Professions Diversity by The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF).

January 28, 2008

The California Wellness Foundation Announces New Board Appointment

Woodland Hills, CA – The Board of Directors of The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) today announced the appointment of a new member, A. Eugene Washington, M.D.

November 26, 2007

TCWF Appoints Staff in Communications and Grants Program Departments

The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) announced the appointments of Adriana Godoy Leiss as communications officer and Julio Marcial as program director.

November 07, 2007

Three Community Leaders To Receive TCWF’s 2007 California Peace Prize

San Francisco — Casey Gwinn created a model organization in San Diego that coordinates and co-locates services and resources for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, elder abuse and sexual assault. Patricia Lee works directly with community organizations and families in San Francisco to help youth at-risk for entry into the juvenile justice system. Cora Tomalinas advocates on behalf of San Jose youth and other community residents on gang prevention and other issues, and champions community organizing as a way to solve problems and influence public policy

November 1, 2007

Health-Sector Nonprofit Executives Receive 2007 TCWF Sabbatical Program Awards

Foundation Funding Supports Eight Nonprofit Health Organizations With $35,000 Grants To Cover Chief Executives’ Paid Time Off

June 5, 2007

Physicians Honored as TCWF Champions of Diversity in the Health Professions

Michael V. Drake, Hector Flores and Ernest C. Levister Awarded $25,000 Each for Their Leadership in Increasing Diversity in the Health Professions

April 13, 2007

TCWF Announces Staff Changes in Program and Communications Departments

Woodland Hills, CA — The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) announces that Fatima L. Angeles has been appointed director of evaluation and organizational learning; Earl Lui hired as program director for environmental health and work and health grants; and Janet I. Sandoval named executive assistant to the vice president of communications.

February 23, 2007

The California Wellness Foundation Announces New Board Appointments

Woodland Hills, CA — The board of directors of The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) announced two new appointments today: Peggy Saika, chair, and Elizabeth M. Gomez, vice chair.

November 07, 2006

The California Wellness Foundation Announces 2006 California Peace Prize Honorees

Los Angeles — Sahra Abdi teaches Somali and African refugees and immigrants who have fled their violent homelands how to control anger and manage stress. Margaret Diaz, a former victim of domestic violence, established a shelter and a pioneering transitional housing program for women and children. Anthony Thigpenn helps train people in African-American and Latino communities to understand and participate in public policy decision-making to prevent violence.

October 26, 2006

Health Sector Nonprofit Executives Receive 2006 TCWF Sabbatical Program Awards

San Francisco — Eight nonprofit health sector executives are being recognized by The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) Sabbatical Program in a ceremony held today in San Francisco. The leadership support program - now in its fourth year - provides eight organizations each with a $35,000 grant to cover the leader's salary and expenses during the sabbatical, which lasts a minimum of three months.

October 16, 2006

The California Wellness Foundation Appoints Fatima L. Angeles Director of Evaluation and Organizational Learning

Woodland Hills — The California Wellness Foundation announced the appointment of Fatima L. Angeles, to the position of director of evaluation and organizational learning.

August 09, 2006

Departing Public Officials Receive Foundation Recognition for Leadership in Policy Arena

Sacramento — The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) presents its 2006 Public Policy Leadership Award to three California state public officials who have influenced millions of lives by advancing public policies that promote the health of Californians. The honorees are: Sen. Martha Escutia, Attorney General Bill Lockyer and Sen. Jackie Speier. The three departing public officials will be recognized at a ceremony in Sacramento on August 9, 2006.

June 02, 2006

Medical Field Leaders Honored As TCWF Champions Of Diversity In Health Professions

Woodland Hills (CA) — The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) presents its fourth annual Champions of Health Professions Diversity Award to three leaders who have pioneered programs and policies to increase diversity within the medical professions. The honorees are Dr. José A. Arévalo of Sacramento, Dr. Rolland C. Lowe of San Francisco and Patricia Pratt of Los Angeles. Each will receive a $25,000 grant in recognition of his or her work and achievements at an awards ceremony in San Francisco on Monday, June 12, 2006.

February 06, 2006

The California Wellness Foundation Announces 2006 Sabbatical Program For Health Leaders

Woodland Hills (CA) — Applications are now available for The California Wellness Foundation’s 2006 Sabbatical Program. The program offers $30,000 grants to nonprofit health organizations in California, enabling their executive directors to take a paid leave of up to six months. Up to $5,000 will also be awarded to each organization for the professional development of managers and staff who will assume extra responsibilities during the absence of the sabbatical awardees. The application deadline is March 24.

January 27, 2006

The California Wellness Foundation Launches $1 Million Campaign To Increase Diversity of Health Care Workforce

Woodland Hills (CA) — The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) announced a $1 million grant to Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide to implement a public education campaign promoting the benefits of increasing ethnic diversity in the California healthcare workforce. TCWF's Board of Directors approved the grant to Ogilvy Public Relations in December 2005.

October 31, 2005

Nonprofit Health Sector Executives Receive 2005 TCWF Sabbatical Program Awards

Woodland Hills (CA) — Eight nonprofit health sector executives will be recognized by the Sabbatical Program of The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) on Tuesday, November 1, 2005 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The leadership support program — now in its third year —provides $35,000 grants to eight California-based organizations to cover their leaders’ salaries and expenses during the sabbaticals, which last a minimum of three months.

October 13, 2005

Article Surveys Impact Of Federal And State Parental Notification Laws And Policies
Woodland Hills – A new article, “Teen Access to Confidential Reproductive Health Services,” by The Guttmacher Institute, summarizes studies and polls measuring the impact of federal and state parental notifications laws and policies throughout the United States.

October 11, 2005

Three Visionaries Receive The California Wellness Foundation's 2005 California Peace Prize
San Francisco – The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) will present its 2005 California Peace Prize to three visionary leaders, each of whom has contributed significantly to preventing violence in the state.

October 7, 2005

New Report Analyzes Competing Discount Prescription Drug Plans On November Ballot
Woodland Hills – This November, California voters will be asked to vote on two prescription drug measures, Proposition 78, Discounts on Prescription Drugs, and Proposition 79, Prescription Drug Discounts. State Negotiated Rebates.

June 6, 2005

Community Clinic Leaders Honored As TCWF Champions Of Diversity In Health Professions
Woodland Hills, CA – Elia Gallardo (Sacramento), Sherry Hirota (Oakland), and Martin Waukazoo (Oakland) Awarded $25,000 Each for Their Leadership in Increasing Diversity

May 6, 2005

TCWF Announces Staff Changes in Several Departments of The Foundation
Woodland Hills, CA – The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) announces that Jeffrey Seungkyu Kim, Taryn Lee and Adriana Godoy Leiss have joined the Foundation and that existing staff member, Nicole J. Jones, has received a new assignment.

February 1, 2005

The California Wellness Foundation Announces New Board Appointments
Woodland Hills, CA – The board of directors of The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF) today announced four new appointments: Douglas X. Patiño, Ph.D., chair; Stewart Kwoh, J.D., vice chair; and David S. Barlow and Elizabeth M. Gomez, new members.

August, 2010

The Health Care Safety Net and Health Reform
The “Great Recession” that has severely impacted the global economy continues to have a solid grip on California. While measurements of economic growth show signs of modest gains in the national economy, this news comes as small comfort to many Californians, where unemployment remains above 12 percent statewide – and as high as 27 percent in rural areas such as Imperial County.

December, 2009

A Report on Our Grantmaking
Over the past two years, there has been substantial discussion in the philanthropic community about the amount of foundation funding reaching underserved and marginalized populations. Conversations with several of our colleagues led to the release of a statement in June 2008 in which we recognized the critical role played by small, community-based nonprofit organizations in addressing the challenges facing minority and other predominately low-income communities in California.

October, 2009

Staying True to Our Mission and Operating Principles Has Resulted in Foundation Diversity
A recent study by a nonprofit advocacy organization indicated that, among large foundations, The California Wellness Foundation has one of the most diverse boards with regard to ethnicity (70 percent) and gender (50 percent). But this wasn’t always the case.

June, 2009

A Strategy for Tough Times: Increasing Core Support To Help Nonprofits Survive
Imagine being the executive director of a community-based nonprofit with a $6.5 million annual budget that operates a health clinic, a food bank, and a jobs program. Before the economy soured, your organization served 400,000 clients annually. At the end of 2008, the number spiked to 475,000, yet your organization experienced reduced donations, grants and government funding, barely reaching $5 million.

May, 2009

A Grantmaking Foundation and a Service Organization
The concept of public service has always been important to me. I was a junior in high school in 1961 when John Kennedy gave his inaugural speech and I completely embraced his challenge: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.”

December, 2008

Strengthening Nonprofit Minority Leadership and the Capacity of Minority-Led and Other Grassroots Community-Based Organizations
A California-based group known as the Foundation Coalition announced new grantmaking activities to fund minority-led and other small, grassroots nonprofits reaching underserved populations. Included here is a cover letter and the report. The Foundation Coalition disbanded after its work concluded with the release of this report on December 22, 2008.

August, 2008

Setting The Record Straight About Our Grantmaking
You may have heard about the recent agreement announced by 10 California foundations including The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF). The agreement, which includes a list of the participating funders, calls for the development of new grantmaking efforts by either individual foundations or collective efforts by some or all of the 10 foundations to focus on capacity building and leadership development for small, grassroots community-based organizations that primarily serve ethnic minority populations.

April, 2008

Gun Violence; The Endemic Epidemic
The Valentine’s Day shooting at Northern Illinois University outside Chicago that killed five and injured 14 is only the latest mass shooting in a two-week outbreak of gun violence across the nation.

April, 2007

Eradicating the Gang Violence Plague: It Takes a Village
The recent drug-related arrest of a well-respected director of the job development program at Communities In Schools of the San Fernando Valley (CIS SFV) caused many observers to ask whether it’s really worth investing in organizations that hire former gang members to help at-risk youth turn away from gangs, finish high school and find decent jobs

March, 2007

Re: Schwarzenegger Calls for Coordinated Attack on Gangs, March 6
Although the police and criminal courts are an important component of any overall gang violence reduction strategy, their response has largely been reactive rather than preventive, making the associate costs exorbitant.

September, 2006

Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Programs Save Tax Dollars
Over the past decade, the teen birthrate in California dropped by more than 46 percent — the steepest decline of any state in the country. In the East Bay, the trend is also heartening. According to a recent Public Health Institute report, the teen pregnancy rate in Oakland decreased by 50 percent between 1991 and 2004.

October, 2005

Violence Prevention Programs Save Lives
This op-ed appeared Oct. 28, 2005, on the opinion page of La Opinión, the largest Spanish-language newspaper in the United States. The original article was published in Spanish, but has been translated to English for www.tcwf.org.

January, 2004

Stay Course on Gang Prevention Funding
In Sacramento, it's difficult to support expenditures that might reduce crime and prison costs in years to come, when voters are clamoring for action now. However, missing from this picture is the proven effectiveness of public health strategies to eradicate the breeding grounds of crime.