Dr. Mehmet Oz to Co-host Special Dinner for HealthCorps

to Help Stem Child Obesity

At Charity’s First West Coast Benefit

The event represents the first intimate fundraiser for HealthCorps, which has grown from a network of four California high schools in 2010 to 15 schools in the new school year thanks to the generosity of new funders: the California Endowment, the California Department of Public Health and Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, WellPoint’s local brand.  HealthCorps has had a presence in California since 2008 when it launched in two Los Angeles schools.  With support from the California Walnut Board, HealthCorps launched its program in two Sacramento high schools in 2010 and opened an office in the capital city in September to oversee growth and new partnerships in the state.

According to Michelle Bouchard, HealthCorps President, "With this intimate evening underway to raise funds for HealthCorps, we hope to draw more support from patrons in California where our proven health mentoring program has nearly quadrupled in size in the past year. From there, we can reach more teens, families and communities and help stem the obesity crisis by getting to the root of what people are truly hunger for and working to remedy the problem."

To fund its mentoring program in at risk communities, HealthCorps relies on leading private and public corporations, associations, foundations and agencies.  It also organizes an annual “Garden Gala” every April that is held at various New York City venues.  The Fresh from the Garden Gala 2011, which honored Russell Simmons and Hugh Jackman and his wife Deborra Lee, drew over 700 guests to the Intrepid Museum and surpassed prior years’ funds raised.  Past Garden Gala honorees include actor, singer and author LL Cool J; YogaEd Founder Tara Guber; music impresario Quincy Jones and performer and health activist Ben Vereen.

To support HealthCorps’ growing school and community network, HealthCorps is strategically partnered with such private and public entities as the American Diabetes Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Cleveland Clinic, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, the Harvard Sleep Lab, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  Evamor™ is the Official Water Sponsor of the HealthCorps program.  With the opening of a Sacramento office and the October 22 benefit with Dr. Oz, HealthCorps hopes to expand its network of West Coast supporters so as to reach more teens, families and community residents and create a nation of health activists.

To purchase tickets for the HealthCorps dinner and to contribute to the organization’s work to stem child obesity, please visit: https://www.healthcorps.org/california-evening-with-oz

For a special invitation from Dr. Mehmet Oz, click http://youtu.be/VJizONt3I1c