CPOH Newsletter Winter 2009 - California Aquatic Therapy

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Winter 2009
Warm Water Rehabilitation
We have a
NEW NAME
I
n June of this year, we changed our name to
California Aquatic Therapy & Wellness
Center, Inc. Our new name better reflects our
services and our dedication to fulfill our mission.
As one of Long Beach's most beloved nonprofit
organizations, we take pride in our 47 years of
providing the elderly, special needs children,
developmentally disabled adults, and injured
individuals with 94 degree water therapy to improve
their quality of life.
HONORED TO SERVE
T
o experience a traumatic injury of any kind can be
devastating. Many of our veterans have returned home
with brain, spinal cord and other life changing injuries.
These injuries not only afftect their physicial state but can
leave them scarred emotionally as well.
At the California Aquatic Therapy & Wellness Center, Inc.,
we see the affects of such injuries among our veterans and we
are honored to serve them each year.
Most veterans come for the warm water rehabilitation but it
is the warmth of the people that help heal their spirit and keep
them coming back.
Veteran, John H. has been participating in the program for
three years. "The water is good for my body and the people
have been good for my soul, " says John.
In 2010, we are looking forward to expanding our services
to include a peer support, family support, and a transportation
program. Our veterans have sacrificially served our country
and it is an honor for us to serve them.
Our name has changed but we are still the "Pools
of Hope."
Celebrating A New Day
Awards Dinner
Thank you to the 200 guests who attended the
Annual Evelyn duPont Awards Dinner on September 26
at the fabulous Buono's Authentic Pizzeria in
downtown Long Beach. There was great food, wine
tasting, auction and music.
Rich Archbold, Executive Editor of the Press
Telegram once again did a fantastic job as the Master of
Ceremony. Awards were presented to Bob Foster,
Mayor City of Long Beach, Virginia County Club,
Long Beach Firefighters, Local 372, Uptown Long
Beach Lions Club, Phillips Steel Company and Eddie
Benford for their support, financial contributions and
volunteer services to California Aquatic Therapy &
Wellness Center, Inc.
It was an evening to remember!
OUR MISSION
To promote wellness and improve the quality
of life for individuals with health needs in an
accessible, warm-water aquatic facility.
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www.californiapoolsofhope.org
h
Splas
PERMIT NO. 771
LONG BEACH, CA
6801 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90805
PAID
Splash
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
We Appreciate our Awards
Dinner Sponsors
X
Buono's Authentic Pizzeria X Wells Fargo
X NRG Energy Corporation
X Southern Wine & Spirit
X Long Beach Firefighters Local 372
X Uptown Long Beach Lions Club
Thank You For Your In-kind Donations!
BIG 5 Sporting Goods
Long Beach Marriott
Bixby Knolls LaunderPet
Long Beach Spine
& Rehabilitation
Brew Haus Coffee & Tea
Out Back Steak House
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Riviera Hotel & Casino
Daily Grill
Round Table
Grill Concepts
Safeway
Hilton Long Beach
Souplantation
Spaghettini Grill & Jazz Club
Hof's Hut
Inn N Out
Super Mex Mexican
Restaurants, Inc.
Islands
The Original Fish Co.
Johnny Reb's
The Queen Mary
Jump Starter Body Fuel
The Reef
LA Dodgers
Vons
LA Lakers
Westin Long Beach
Laugh Factory
Warm Water Rehabilitation Therapy
The Goal of California Aquatic
Therapy & Wellness Center, Inc. is to
improve the health and well being of the
community. We offer the following
programs in the warm waters of hope:
O Aqua Physical Therapy
O Senior Aquatic Exercise
O Healthy Women Program
O Veteran Aqua Wellness Program
O Art for Health
O Moovin' N Groovin' Program
for disabled and non-disabled
children and youth
O Brown Baggin' It For Health
O Spinal Cord Injury Aquatic Therapy
O Deep Water Exercise and
Conditioning Activities
O Swim Lessons for all ages
WINTER 2009
Editor's Box
Patricia Dixon, Executive Director
California Aquatic Therapy & Wellness
Center, Inc.
6801 Long Beach Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90805
310-537-2224
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.caaquatictherapy.com
Hours of Operations:
Tue - Fri
9:00am - 3:00pm
Tue & Thu 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Sat
9:00am - 1:00pm
Closed Sun & Mon
Expressions
I had a stroke and this place has been
a God sent. Each year CATWC
gives out hundreds of toys to local
children and I dress up as Santa.
This is my way of giving back to this
wonderful place. Thank you Wells
Fargo for donating to the Pools of
Hope. Larry M. (Santa)
A special thank you to Mr. George
& Gloria Deukmejian and Staff
for making this program happen. I
had back surgery. I can now sit
and walk longer. Eddie M.
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Your Donation Will Make A Difference!
DIRECTOR’S CORNER
by
Patricia
Dixon
Who Knows
We ask that you think of us during
this Holiday Season. Your tax deductible
gift can help us to provide 1,200 elderly
and people with disabilities with
therapeutic aquatic and wellness
programs each year. You can designate
your donation to help us with:
General Operating Support Parking Lot - Van - Water Wheel
Chairs - Aquatic Lifts - Solar Panels
Your donation will make a
difference.
A
nother year is coming to a close. And
I ask myself where did the time go?
Soon I will be turning a year older
and my body has started to remind me that
someday I may need the warm waters of
hope for myself.
Over my 10 year tenure, I have met so
many people who came to the pool to bring
their disabled children, parents, siblings and
or neighbors. Some have been employees of
companies that brought developmentally
disabled adults to the program. Today, many
of them are now clients or have referred
someone they know to the program. We
often hear, "I am so glad you are still here."
Our response is we are too!
I recognize that these are challenging
economic times and many people have
limited access to health services. This year,
requests for free services has increased to
more than 55%.
The work we are doing today, not only
helps to continue a great legacy of making a
difference, but it will also help the tomorrow
of many people to come. For who knows
what health challenges tomorrow may bring!
With the support of generous people like
you, we can know that California Aquatic
Therapy & Wellness Center, Inc. may be here
for many more tomorrows to come. May your
today and tomorrow be filled with joy and
happiness during this Holiday Season!
California Aquatic Therapy & Wellness Center staff
participates in the Long Beach Veterans Day Parade.
May you have a Joyful
Holiday Season!
CATWC Aquatics
and Administrative Staff
Happy Holidays!
New West Rehabilitation PT Services
Expressions of Gratitude
I joined the Pool with my
twin sister and she passed
away. She was my best
friend. Coming here helped
me mentally, physically and
spiritually. The Pool is a
place of love and encouragement. I am so grateful to
NRG Energy Inc., for supporting CATWC. Rosetta H.
Thank you Union Pacific Foundation for
your donations to CATWC. I am grateful
that there is a program like this for
disabled children. My sons are autistic.
Please continue to support the program so
that they can touch the lives of other
disabled children. Also, thanks to CATWC
staff for doing a great job! Bertila, Mother
of Eduardo and Elton L. (ages 10 & 12)
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Expressions of Gratitude
I have received the best therapy at
CATWC. It has helped to improve my
health. Thank you Employee
Community Fund Boeing for
supporting this program.
Larry B. & Mireya Hernandez, D.C.
I would like to thank the Catholic
Healthcare West Foundation especially
for your support in these difficult economic
times. Aquatic exercise has helped my
diabetes. Most of the pool members are on
retirement or disability incomes and could
never support the pool on their own. God
bless and have a happy, joyous season!
James H.
Thank you Val Lerch, Vice Mayor City of
Long Beach for supporting the pool. Our
clients love coming to the pool for exercise.
Jeanette W. Dawns, Development Center
Thank you Kaiser Permanente for your
donation to the pool. It's working! Mary V.
My name is Dagoberto O. and the warm water
has helped to rehabilitate me from a knee
injury. Thank you Northrop Grumman
Corporation for your generous donation.
Your generous donations are appreciated.
The pool has helped me a great deal with
my arthritis and diabetes. Thank you
Admini Trust LLC for helping CATWC
to help me! Barbara D.
Thank you The Earl B. and Loraine H.
Miller Foundation for helping to keep
CATWC open and affordable. This
program has helped my son, Elijah a lot.
CATWC is "God sent" to parents who
have special needs children.
Elijah H., Mother, Stephanie
I appreciate the City of Paramount for
supporting the aquatic programs at
CATWC. I love my Pool family!
John H.
My son Matthew is 8 years old and has
autism. We feel so blessed to have this
pool available. It is very satisfying to see
how much he has progressed.
Thank you Josephine S. Gumbiner
Foundation, for supporting this program.
A special thank you to the
Rudolph J. & Daphne A.
Munzer Foundation for your
support of CATWC. My son Kai
is autistic and the program has
made a difference in his life.
Glenn B.
THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AT CATWC
Thank you Pacific Hospital of Long Beach
Charitable Trust with all my heart for
supporting the Pool.
WISHES TO PERSONALLY
Cynthia A.
THANK EACH OF OUR DONORS FOR THEIR SUPPORT.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Expressions cont’d Page 4