What’s New?

Health Diversity Champion Profiled

Katherine

Katherine Flores, M.D., a 2004 TCWF Champion of Health Professions Diversity Award honoree, was profiled in a recent segment of NBC Nightly News. The story focused on Flores’ efforts to bring young Latinos in Fresno into the health professions. The segment, “From Migrant Work Camps to Medical School,” also spotlights Flores’ family background, which helped inspire her life’s work.

Grantee-Produced Surveys

Two surveys, commissioned by Fenton Communications and funded by a TCWF grant, were released in December 2008. Conducted by Goodwin Simon Victoria Research (GSVR), a survey of 108 California nonprofit health care clinics found that many of them face serious challenges in recruiting, hiring and retaining allied health professionals in order to run their clinics and meet the health care needs of the communities they serve. Another GSVR survey, of 728 Californians ages 16 to 34, found that young people see health care as a career choice offering job security, family-sustaining wages and professional satisfaction, ranking it higher than information technology. Both surveys are available on TCWF’s website at http://www.calwellness.org/health_issues/diversity_in_health.htm.

Secrets of the Bulletproof Spirit

Katherine

Azim Khamisa, a 2003 TCWF California Peace Prize honoree, has co-written the book, “The Secrets of the Bulletproof Spirit: How To Bounce Back From Life’s Hardest Hits.” Recently published by Ballantine Books and co-authored by Jillian Quinn, the book is an exploration of spiritual resiliency. Khamisa, founder and president of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation in San Diego, was recognized with the TCWF California Peace Prize for his efforts to teach youth about the consequences of violence and to offer tools for addressing conflict in nonviolent ways.

New Teen Resource on Sex

In April 2009, the California Family Health Council (CFHC) launched “The Hookup,” a text messaging service that offers weekly sex education and information about local clinics that provide low- to no-cost sexual health services. For more information, visit http://teensource.org. CFHC is a TCWF grantee.

New Board Appointments Announced

TCWF announced four new appointments: Elizabeth M. Gomez, M.S.W., chair; David S. Barlow, M.B.A, C.P.A., vice chair; and M. Isabel Becerra and Elisabeth Hallman, M.B.A., R.N., as new Board members.

Kudos

In May, the Council on Foundations (COF) honored TCWF with the Critical Impact Award at its 60th annual conference in Atlanta. In a statement from COF, it acknowledged the Foundation’s grantmaking in violence prevention, its innovative leadership and bold vision to enhance the common good through effective grantmaking.

Katherine

In April, The Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs honored TCWF President and CEO Gary L. Yates with its Lifetime of Excellence in Public Services Award at its 28th Annual Awards Dinner in Los Angeles.

Katherine

Fatima Angeles, TCWF director of evaluation and organizational learning, was appointed in March to the board of Grantmakers In Health (GIH).

At its March 2009 annual meeting in New Orleans, GIH honored Yates with The Terrance Keenan Leadership Award in Health Philanthropy. GIH’s announcement described Yates as a dedicated health professional, a visionary grantmaker, a groundbreaking communicator, and a catalyst for promoting diversity.

Visión y Compromiso—a statewide organization dedicated to training promotoras (community health workers) and fostering community-based leadership development—awarded TCWF with its El Corazón recognition at a ceremony held in December 2008.

Cristina M. Regalado, TCWF vice president of programs, was recognized by Kalusugan Community Services for her meritorious service in support of the health of Filipino Americans and other underserved Californians. Regalado received the award in November 2008.

Staff Updates

Bruce Minnich has been named director of information systems, and Amy B. Scop has been named director of grants management.

TCWF recognizes Hailing Wang, assistant treasurer, for 15 years of service to the Foundation.

TCWF welcomes new staff: Breanna Cardwell, executive assistant; Patty Gómez-Delucchi, office services coordinator; Jamie Schenker, administrative assistant; and Deborah Setele, grants management associate.