SCAN Health Plan has furthered its longstanding commitment to healthy, independent aging with a $10,000 contribution to Second Harvest Food Bank of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. The donation is part of SCAN’s ongoing commitment to supporting seniors in the communities it serves.

“Significant decreases in state and federal funding have created financial shortfalls for many community-based organizations,” said David Schmidt, chief executive officer of SCAN, a senior-focused not-for-profit health plan. “At SCAN we feel strongly about ensuring that critically important resources remain open and available to seniors who rely on them, especially for something as basic as a warm meal.”

SCAN’s community giving program is focused on helping to meet immediate needs – and close gaps – in community services.

Funding is provided to community-based, nonprofit organizations that provide direct services to seniors, particularly those providing basic human needs such as food.

To date SCAN has donated $85,000 to organizations supporting senior nutrition across California. In 2009 SCAN launched this outreach effort by donating approximately $385,000 to 44 not-for-profit, community-based organizations statewide. The majority of these contributions focused on senior nutrition, with dollars also going toward long-term care and caregiver programs.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Riverside and San Bernardino counties has worked for the last 30 years collecting donated food from the food industry and coordinating the distribution of that product to over 440 charities located throughout the two counties.

Each month over 1.6 million pounds of food are distributed to agencies such as homeless shelters, community kitchens, daycare centers, halfway house, residential treatment centers, shelters for the abused, and group homes. The Food Bank also provides food to over 4,000 low-income senior citizens each month through senior centers.

“Second Harvest Food Bank truly appreciates the support of SCAN Health Plan in helping us to continue assisting needy seniors during this economic crisis and in the future,” said Daryl Brock, executive director of Second Harvest. As a result of their support, we will be able to continue providing support to a growing population that is often forgotten.”

SCAN’s community giving program is part of the health plan’s larger community outreach efforts, which also include the SCAN Van mobile resource center for seniors and caregivers launched earlier this year, SCAN’s “Trading Ages” senior sensitivity program, the SCAN Resource Centers in California and Arizona, and many other initiatives.

“The growth of the older adult population is impacting communities and families all across America,” said Schmidt. “There has never been a greater need to support community organizations through meaningful and purposeful giving.”

For more than 30 years, SCAN Health Plan has been focusing on the unique needs of seniors and is now the country’s fourth largest not-for-profit Medicare Advantage plan. The company currently has nearly 130,000 members in California and Arizona. Further information may be obtained at scanhealthplan.com.

Charter Plans to Drop The Africa Channel

For more then three years in your area The Africa Channel has provided great programming from Africa that has been entertaining and educational; according to all that watch the channel. The channel has grown in popularity and has achieved additional distribution throughout the US. Since our 2007 launch in your market TAC can now be seen in every major market in the US. Charter Cable says it is planning to drop The Africa Channel to make room on its system for new HD programs.

Charter has said their programming is fine and their marketing support has been very good. The reason for a scheduled removal of TAC from their system comes down to making room for new HD channels.

Please contact the Fred Lutz, VP/GM, Charter Communications, 4781 Irwindale, CA 91706, (626) 813-8670 and express your desire to keep The Africa Channel on air in your market.

Sizzling Summer Music Series 2010

Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. featuring Pro2Call and Friends with special guest appearance Elements at the Sports Center Amphitheater and Lounge, 930 S. Arrowhead Ave. , Gate 10, San Bernardino.

Advance purchase tickets $15 and at the door $20. For more information please visit www.garrettmanagementgroup.com or call (866) 514.3391.

Gladys Knight Launches Jewelry Collection

Legendary R&B icon Gladys Knight will debut her Gladys Knight Jewelry Collection at the Essence Music Festival, July 4 weekend in New Orleans.

A portion of the sales will benefit Kumasi Women’s Cooperative in Ghana. Gladys Knight will be in New Orleans from July 2 through July 4 as part of the Essence Music Festival. She will perform in concert on Saturday, July 3, 2010 and conduct a meet and greet at the Essence Marketplace on Friday, July 2, 2010.

To view the Gladys Knight Jewelry Collection go to http://www.gladysknightjewelry.com.

Menopause the Musical at California Theater

The international hit show Menopause The Musical® will be performing at the California Theatre of the Performing Arts in San Bernardino July 20-25, 2010.

To purchase tickets call the California Theatre Box Office at (909) 885-5152 or visit www.ticketmaster.com

The Inland Empire Concerned African American Churches (IECAAC) and the African American Health Institute (AAHI) of San Bernardino County recently co-sponsored an Inland Empire Men’s Health Summit to celebrate and honor Black men participation in improving their health and the health of their families, and communities.

This event was held in conjunction with Father’s Day, to celebrate the month of June as "Prostate Cancer Prevention Month".

For several years the IECAAC and the AAHI have cooperated in an outreach/ research "Black Men’s Prostate Prevention Project" which has taken them to many locations within California to other states, and to the Caribbean.

Individually as well as through focus groups, fraternaties, veterans organizations, churches, health & other civic groups, Black men have shared their experiences, and participated in designing program materials for a 'TOOL KIT that is more useful and can better serve African Americans.

V. Diane Woods, DrPH, CEO, African American Health Institute, promoted and coordinated the Black Men's Prostate Cancer Prevention Project.

Dr. Woods presented a complete Prostate Cancer Prevention "TOOL KIT" to a representative of several participating groups, asking each to use the KIT and begin work immediately.

Healthy Heritage Movement, a non-profit health advocacy organization, hosted the first of its 2010 spring series ‘Beauty Inside and Out’ Women’s Outreach Program this past April. The goal is to feature presentations at beauty salons throughout the Inland Empire. True beauty comes from within and is the crux of Beauty Inside and Out founded by Phyllis Clark, CEO of Healthy Heritage Movement.

With the African American community having the highest percentage of health issues such as diabetes, high blood pressure and other such ailments, Healthy Heritage Movement’s mission is to educate and empower Blacks through educational resources and advocacy for people to make the necessary lifestyle changes for healthier living.

The second of the 2010 spring series of Beauty Inside and Out Women’s Wellness Outreach Program takes place Monday, June 21st from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at LaJoyce Coiffures located at 1735 Spruce St. #C in Riverside. Attendees will walk away with pertinent information on the subject of Ovarian Cancer.

Health experts include Dr. Leita J. Harris, a woman’s self care and wellness coach who has over 15 years experience working in the field of obstetrics and gynecology and is currently a clinical professor at University of California Riverside. Dr. Harris enriches women with tools on how to value themselves by staying healthy, reducing stress and spiritual growth. She will also share invaluable information about certain cancer risk factors.

To make reservations call (951) 413-9362, or email hhwcmovement@yahoo.com.