Network for a Healthy California’s Annual Latino Health Awareness Month Festivities Help Imperial Valley Families Make Good Health a Priority While Celebrating Their Latino Heritage

• WHAT: The Network for a Healthy California—Latino Campaign, the El Centro Parks and Recreation, Imperial Food Bank, Imperial County Children & Families First Commission, Women, Infants and Children(WIC), Behavioral Health, March of Dimes, Breastfeeding Coalition and UC Cooperative Extension will host a Community Event in El Centro, to commemorate Latino Health Awareness Month. This statewide effort empowers Latinos to make healthy, active living a priority for themselves and their families while staying true to their culture. The event is offered at no cost to the public and will include a variety of fun and educational activities such as learning how to make authentic Latino dishes using healthy ingredients and cooking methods, and discovering fun, low-cost ways for the whole family to be physically active.

  WHY: As California Latinos continue to suffer higher rates of obesity, the Network hosts events like Latino Health Awareness Month that offer the tools and information they need to be Champions for Change who make healthier choices, like eating more fruits and vegetables and being more physically active every day. With obesity estimated to cause 112,000 deaths per year in the United States, making healthy changes helps lower the risk of obesity and the serious health problems that follow.

  WHEN: Thursday, September 2, 2010, 5:00 p.m.

  WHERE: El Centro Community Center

  375 S. First Street

El Centro CA. 92243

• WHO:

· Dr. Gloria Sotelo, San Diego Nutrition Network

· Local Champion Mom Isela Villagrana and her family

• VISUALS:

· Local Champion Mom, Isela Villagrana, preparing healthy Latino recipes featuring in-season fruits and vegetables and offering healthier cooking methods

· Community participating in physical activity demonstrations lead by Eva Navarro Zumba Instructor

· “Brain Dance” presentation by Ashley Beltran- Gonzalez with Creative Dance Center. The dance includes eight fundamental movement patters and an excellent full body and brain warm-up

· No cost food box provided by Imperial Valley Food Bank

• CONTACT: Yoli Viviana Sanchez, Network for a Healthy California—Imperial Valley Region Latino Campaign, at 760-482-4939(on-site) or yolivivianasanchez@co.imperial.ca.us

Aymee Valdes, Paine PR at 213-996-3806 or avaldes@painepr.com