Warm Water Rehabil i tation Therapy Winter 2008

A SPECIALFAMILY

Did youknow that60% of thechildren withdisabilities inour programhave Autism?

Children with autism usually havelow muscle tone. At California Poolsof Hope, the warm water providessupport with movement along withresistance, to promote musclestrengthening. It also allows the childto focus on therapeutic play-basedfunctional movement, whichimproves range of motion, neuro-developmental growth, improve bodyawareness, increased balance andsensory integration.

We provide the ideal therapeuticenvironment that enhances the livesof children with disabilities. Weserve our children with pride! Ourphysical therapist staff is dedicatedand ready to serve.

HOPE FOR CHILDRENWITH AUTISM AT CPH

OUR MISSIONThe mission of California Poolsof Hope, Inc. is to promotewellness and improve the qualityof life for individuals with healthneeds in an accessible warmwater aquatic facility.

Xochitl Pelayo (Mom)and Brandon Gaytan

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The goal of California Pools of Hope is to improve thehealth and well being of the community. CPH providesthe following programs in the warm waters of hope:

Aqua Physical Therapy Senior Aquatic ExerciseHealthy Women Program Art for Health Moovin' N Groovin' Program for disabledand non-disabled children and youthBrown Baggin' It For Health Spinal Cord Injury Aquatic TherapyDeep Water Exercise and Conditioning ActivitiesSwim Lessons for all ages

NON-PROFITORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMITNO. 771

LONG BEACH, CA

www.californiapoolsofhope.org

WINTER 2008

Editor's BoxPatricia Dixon, Executive DirectorCalifornia Pools of Hope, Inc.6801 Long Beach Blvd.Long Beach, CA 90805310-537-2224Email: capoolsofhope@aol.comWebsite: californiapoolsofhope.orgHours of Operations: Tue - Fri 9:00am - 3:00pmTue & Thu 5:30pm - 7:30pmSat 9:00am - 1:00pmClosed Sun & Mon

Splash

Splash Warm Water Rehabilitation Therapy6801 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90805

Your Financial Health MattersCalifornia Pools of Hope is proud to partner with AmeripriseFinancial through the Community Connection program toprovide aquatic therapy programs through charitabledonations. Call Travis, to find out how to improve yourfinancial health and help CPH at the same time.

New

California Pools of Hope is a nonprofit organization. We ask you to supportour efforts with a tax-deductible donation today. Thank you for your support!

Special ThanksThank You to the Earl B. and Loraine H.

Miller Foundation for a $25,000 grant.

ASK:

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Iam honored to have the opportunity to share what CPH has meant to me. I was born in1969, without arms or legs. Life's journey has been full of challenges, opportunitiesand blessings. My disability has gone from being viewed as a curse or punishment, to

one full of blessings and successes. Born to parents who found it very difficult to accept achild with such severe disabilities, I was given to the County of Los Angeles and spent myfirst three months of life at Rancho Los Amigos Hospital. As a special needs child thatrequired constant assistance from nursing staff, it wasn’t long before I was placed into thehome of a loving foster family to be raised. Expectations of me were the same as anyother child - to get an education and to live a productive life. CPH became a part of myfamily when I was just nine months old. The great founder Evelyn DuPont Evans took mein as one of her own and provided me with great care and instruction in learning to swim.Thirty-nine years later I still swim as often as possible. Swimming is my main source ofexercise. Without it my health is at higher risk.

A Special Family in CPH

Richard Devylder

DIRECTOR’S CORNER

Tis' the Season toBe Thankful

Do you have a spinal cord injury? Do you suffer from spasticity(muscle jerking, spasm or decreased muscle tone)? Do you haveproblems with stiffness of arms and legs, atrophy (breakdown of themuscles), fibrosis (thickening and scarring of tissue) and contractingof muscles, including difficulty moving your arms and legs?

If you do, California Pools of Hope has the perfect aqua therapyprogram to improve your condition and rehabilitation process.

The Spinal Cord Injury Aqua Therapy Program (SCIAT) atCalifornia Pools of Hope is designed to enhance the physical andmental health, education and employment of patients with spinalcord injuries.

The program consists of:- Comprehensive Physical Therapy Case Management- Mental Health Counseling Services- Mentorship Program- Education & Career Advancement Program. CPH is celebrating over 40 years of providing an aquatic

therapeutic and wellness program to improve the health of peoplewith disabilities. The facility is equipped with two indoor pools thatare heated 91 - 94 degrees. We also provide water wheel chairs,ramps and hydrophilic lifts, which allows for easy access to theaquatic therapy services. The SCIAT program is designed to aid patients in the transition andto help manage spinal cord injury!Your help is only a phone call away! (310) 537-2224

As the year comes to a close, even during thesedifficult economic times, I realize that I have a lot tobe thankful for. I am thankful to have my family who loves meunconditionally. I am thankful for friends that supportme in spite of my imperfections. I am thankful to be apart of California Pools of Hope, an organization thatbrings hope to so many people with disabilities.

I am thankful that the future of California Pools ofHope looks bright as we are planning many excitingprogrammatic endeavors to better serve the community.

I am thankful that California Pools of Hope hasfriends like you who give generously to support ourefforts. For the integral part that you have played in makingCalifornia Pools of Hope programs possible, I amthankful for you!Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

There are three ingredients that make CPH a success in my life: great and committed staff, generous and loyal donors, andthe patrons. A couple of weeks ago we all lost a great friend and member of the CPH family, Joe King. Joe was a man ofgreat character who was so in love with his wife and children, and incredibly loyal to his work. As all CPH directors, hepersonally sacrificed by working long hours trying to raise the funds necessary to keep the dream alive and the waters warm.Joe and I worked together as brothers on many advocacy issues. Joe wanted to keep the CPH doors open and to improveaccess in the community by ensuring the availability of transportation services to those who wished to live independently. Wewill all miss him. I am grateful to have been able to call him friend and often times Brother Joe, which always made him laugh.

To the donors I salute you for your loyal and continuous support. Your generosity has helped countless people who havedisabilities, like my friend Larry who recently suffered a stroke. To discover the miracles of what warm water can do torecover is beyond imagination. And, to the patrons, as Evelyn would say to me often, keep showing off!

New Spinal Cord Injury AquaTherapy Program

by Patricia Dixon

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Over 200 friends joined the Board of Directors of the CaliforniaPools of Hope for the 45th Annual Evelyn duPont Awards Dinner on

Saturday, October 4, 2008. Thanks to Board President, Frank Buono, thisyear's event was held under the stars at the fabulous Italian Piazza at Buono'sAuthentic Pizzeria in downtown Long Beach.

Our great friend, Rich Archbold, Executive Editor of the Press Telegram, keptthe evening exciting as the Master of Ceremony. The guests enjoyed a scrumptiousItalian feast and exquisite wine tasting, made possible in part by SouthernCalifornia Wines. A silent auction was held and, back by popular demand, acapellasinging trio “Out-A- Sight, as well as the smooth sounds of the Friends Jazz band.

The honorable Mayor Bob Foster, of the City of Long Beach presented theLifesaver Legacy Award to Val Lerch, Vice Mayor City of Long Beach. Thehonorable Mayor Gene Daniels accepted the Water Wing Award on behalf of theCity of Paramount. David Lloyd, Director of Community Relations was presentedthe Water Wing Award on behalf of NRG Energy, Inc. The Tailwind Award,accepted by Director, Bill Winters, went to Paramount Petroleum Corporation.Andy Perez, Director of Port Affairs Corporate Relations accepted the award forUnion Pacific Railroad. The Lifeline Volunteer of the Year Award was presented toSheila Holmes.

This year a new award category was created called “Sylvester Krueger RafterSpecial Recognition,” to honor longtime supporter Sylvester Krueger. The awardwas presented to the dynamic Staff ofVal Lerch, Vice Mayor of the CityLong Beach. The beautiful JondaComan, Chief of Staff accepted theaward.

The event was also attended byPastor Granderson Wright of YouthAction For Christ, Jim Worsham, LongBeach Community Foundation, ReneeFerrell, City of Compton. Linda Ikedaof Razoreyes Studio, and many otherwonderful friends who raised over$22,000.

California Pools of Hope, Inc. isproud to celebrate its 45th year ofproviding aquatic therapy programs toimprove the health of people withdisabilities and the elderly. We serveover 1500 clients a year, offeringphysical therapy, aquatic exercise andwellness education programs to thecommunity.

(l-r) Shelia Holmes, Volunteer of the Year,Jonda Coman, Bill Winters

(l-r) Mayor, Bob Foster, Pastor GrandersonWright and Val Lerch, Vice Mayor, Long Beach

(l-r) David Lloyd, NRG Energy, Pat Dixon, Exec.Director CPH, Bob Foster, Mayor, Long Beach

Lifesavers SponsorsBuono’s Authentic PizzeriaKaiser PermanenteKessal Young & LoganNRG, Inc.Wells Fargo

Thank You To OurDinner Award

Sponsors and Donors

In-Kind DonationsAirport MarriottAmericana EnterprisesBubba GumpsBuono's PizzeriaChuck's Coffee ShopClaim JumperCreative CakeryDomenico'sE J Malloy'sFresh & Easy GroceryGallahers Pub & GrillHyatt HotelHof's HutHooter'sIn-N-OutIslands (Downtown Long

Beach, Los Alamitos & Town Center)

It's a GrindJimmy's Fish & GrillJohnny Reb'sKhoury's RestaurantThe L.A. Laker'sLaunder PetLegal Aid Foundation

M & M LiquorMoLAAOriginal Roadside GrillPanama Joe'sParker's LighthousePronto LimousineQueen MaryRalph'sRazoreyes StudiosRivera Hotel (LV)RossSahara Hotel (LV)Schooner or LaterSo. California WineSpaghettini RestaurantSpirit CruisesStaplesStater Bros. MarketsT G I Friday'sTrump National

Golf CourseTrani's RestaurantVillage Wine TastingVirginia Country ClubYou Dirty Dog Groomer

An Evening of Wine Tasting,Dinner Buffet and Silent Auction

It is the season for givingand our clients know how togive. Through the Circle ofHope Auxiliary, our clientsdonated over 100 toys to thisyear's toy drive. We

appreciate their caring hearts to make theChristmas Holiday bright for low-incomechildren in our neighborhood.

The toys were distributed on Saturday,December 20th at the Circle of HopeAuxiliary Holiday luncheon. Thank youCPH clients for helping to make theHoliday special for children in ourcommunity.

It is good to receive, even greater to give!

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTHWe salute BobbyVenaderos, who wasselected by our clientsas the employee of themonth. Bobby is part ofour dynamic aquaticstaff that you can count

on for a great total body workout! Kudos'Bobby for a job well done!

Circle of HopeChristmas ToyDrive

Bobby Venaderos

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