Senators Sheila Kuehl and Jack Scott Receive 2008 TCWF Public Policy Leadership Award SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 11
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Aug. 11 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Wellness
Foundation (TCWF) presents its 2008 Public Policy Leadership Award to two
members of the California State Senate who have influenced millions of lives
by advancing public policies that promote the health of Californians. The
honorees are Sen. Sheila Kuehl and Sen. Jack Scott. The two departing
legislators will be recognized at a ceremony in Sacramento on August 12, 2008.
"Senators Kuehl and Scott deserve to be recognized as champions for the
health of underserved people in California," said Gary L. Yates, TCWF
president and CEO.
Sen. Sheila Kuehl has devoted 14 years to public service. Among the bills
she has authored are measures to protect reproductive rights, fund hospitals
and clinics and expand access to primary preventive health and screening
services for low-income families. Sen. Kuehl's passionate service as chair of
the Senate Health Committee put universal access to health care at the center
of California's policy debate. Her health-focused legislative leadership has
extended to the areas of environmental health and the prevention of domestic
violence.
During his 12 year legislative career, Sen. Jack Scott has been a leader
in advancing policies to control the proliferation of guns, improve school
safety and enhance youths' access to after-school activities -- strategies
that have solid track records for reducing violence against youth. He
championed measures to develop the health care workforce by increasing access
to higher education and nursing training. After leaving the California State
Senate, Scott will serve as chancellor of California's community college
system.
"Senators Kuehl and Scott exemplify the spirit of public service and
commitment to the health and wellness of their constituents -- and all
Californians," said Sandra Martinez, TCWF's program director overseeing the
award program.
The purpose of the Public Policy Leadership Award is to recognize
departing legislators who have made substantial contributions to the
advancement of public policies that promote the health of underserved
Californians.
The California Wellness Foundation is an independent, private foundation
created in 1992, with a mission to improve the health of the people of
California by making grants for health promotion, wellness education and
disease prevention. The Foundation prioritizes eight issues for funding:
diversity in the health professions, environmental health, healthy aging,
mental health, teenage pregnancy prevention, violence prevention, women's
health, and work and health. It also responds to timely issues or special
projects outside the funding priorities. TCWF is one of the state's largest
foundations. Since its first year of operation, the Foundation has awarded
5,169 grants totaling more than $641 million. Last year, TCWF awarded $64
million in grants in pursuit of its mission. Please visit TCWF's website at
http://www.tcwf.org for more information, including a newsroom section devoted
to the Public Policy Leadership Award and the two honorees. Photos suitable
for downloading are also available.
SOURCE The California Wellness Foundation
