https://www.unitedway.org/nourishing-community https://www.unitedway.org/resilient-communities
×

Sign me up for updates. Sign up now

×
Donate Take Action
In The News

United Way celebrates Day of Action with focus on health, fitness

Greg Barnette/Record Searchlight
Volunteer Austin McFadden, from left, Charlie Snow, 8, and United Way board member Elsbeth Prigmore play the ball game nine square Tuesday during the United Way Health and Fitness Field Day at Shasta College.

Original Source: Redding Record Searchlight

By Amber Sandhu

On a sunny and breezy Tuesday morning, children gathered with their parents at the Shasta College track to participate in United Way of Northern California's Day of Action to celebrate children's health and fitness.

The event, which is held June 21 at all national United Way branches, was a first-time celebration for the Redding area nonprofit, said Phylicia Snow, development director at United Way.

"It was the culmination of the idea to get our community healthy," Snow said. "It's something we want to continue to do."

United Way supports a number of local nonprofits through grant allocation, and also holds partnerships with corporate organization such as Kohl's and Target to help meet the North State community's needs through volunteer-led efforts.

Various organizations such as Simpson University, Turtle Bay Exploration Park, YMCA, and CrossFit Redding Youth Athletic Club set up interactive booths that focused on education and fitness. After participating in an activity, each of the children received a sticker for their "passport," and turned it in for a free T-shirt, water bottle and Colt 45's tickets.

Jeremiah Jordan, 10, attended the event with his aunt and two cousins. He stopped by the Parent Partner program at a Shasta College booth, and picked out a piece of paper from a box that listed various parent-child activities. While his cousin ended up with a "one free game night" option, Jeremiah picked a piece of paper that encouraged him to make breakfast for his parents. Although he wasn't happy, he wasn't disappointed, either.

"I'm just surprised," Jeremiah said. "And I'm not lying."

United Way's been in the North State for 55 years, and serves Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, Trinity, Butte, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc and Plumas counties. For this year's event, they collaborated with Dignity Health, Colt 45s, Shasta College, Redding Chamber of Commerce, Redding Rancheria, City of Shasta Lake and more.

Snow pointed out that in Shasta County, children live four years less than the California average. According to United Way's Human Development Index Report, that measured "a long and healthy life, access to knowledge and a decent standard of living."

Shasta County ranks 32 out of the 48 counties ranked.

The study further discusses the Five Californias — One Percent, Elite Enclave, Main Street, Struggling and Disenfranchised. According to the study, the North State falls into the "Struggling California" category, which is home to 42 percent of California's population where the median income is about $23,816. The study also shows that counties categorized under Struggling California, have nearly one out of five teens and young adults between ages 16 and 24 who are categorized as "disconnected youth" and are neither working nor enrolled in school.

Larry Olmstead, president and chief executive officer for United Way of Northern California, who just started his position in February, said he plans to aggressively raise funds for youth and enrichment programs.

"We want to work with organizations that are uplifting our youth," he said.

Despite Shasta County having a high rate of youth graduating high school, there is a limited pathway for them afterward, Olmstead said.

"What we want is the youth to see opportunities in terms of jobs and building a good life," he said. "And that's with health and fitness."