Press Releases
Natividad Medical Foundation Launches Hospital-Wide Reading Program
Books Collected From Local Book Drive to be Presented to Hospital Staff and Patients
"Natividad Reads! ~ ¡Leyendo con Natividad!" is a hospital-wide initiative promoting access to reading for children and families as a means of improving their health. Features of the program include volunteers from the Salinas Public Library helping patients with prolonged hospitalizations who may have low literacy levels, free books distributed to children and patients in the hospital, a Book Mobile offered by the Salinas Public Library, and the Monterey County Free Libraries Reading Safari regularly visiting the hospital to bring books to Natividad's patients under the age of 5. According to the American Medical Association, "Poor health literacy is a stronger predictor of a person's health than age, income, employment status, education level, and race." Health literacy is essential to understanding prevention and care.
WHO: Natividad Medical Foundation
WHAT: Representatives from local Starbucks stores will present books collected from a county-wide book drive to Natividad Medical Center staff and patients to launch the hospital-wide reading initiative, "Natividad Reads! ~ ¡Leyendo con Natividad!" Speakers scheduled for the presentation include Bill Foley, CEO of Natividad Medical Center, Jose Monegro of First 5 of Monterey County and Janet Shing of the Community Foundation for Monterey County. The book drive is sponsored by Starbucks and KWAV, and the event is sponsored by First 5 Monterey County, Earthbound Farm, Salinas Public Libraries, Monterey County Free Libraries and Natividad Medical Foundation.
WHERE: Natividad Medical Center
1441 Constitution Blvd
Main Lobby, Building 500
Salinas, CA 93906
WHEN: Tuesday, September 23, 2008
2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
EVENT DETAILS: This is a private event open to members of the media and hospital staff only.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: To join the media list for the event or to arrange for interviews and photo opportunities, please contact Shelley Gesicki, Account Executive, Armanasco Public Relations, Inc. at 831.372.2259.
About Natividad Medical Foundation
Established in 1988, the Natividad Medical Foundation is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. The mission and vision of the Natividad Medical Foundation is to philanthropically support programs that continually improve the health status of the people in Monterey County through access to affordable, high-quality healthcare services. The Foundation is led by a Board of Directors and a professional staff reflecting a cross-section of Monterey County's people, communities and expertise. For more information, please call 831-755-4187 or visit www.natividadfoundation.org