Schiff Secures Funds to Help Improve the Quality of Life in Our Region
Washington, DC – Late last night, the House passed a measure that includes important funds aimed at improving the quality of life in our area, Representative Adam Schiff (D-CA) announced today. The Fiscal Year 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill included funding for family services, a medical center expansion, a library improvement project and an after school arts program for low-income children. Following approval in the Senate, the bill will be sent to the President to be signed into law.
“These funds are vital investments that support local emergency care, libraries, and family centers,” said Schiff. “They will make our community a safer, healthier, and more prosperous place to live.”
The Glendale Adventist Medical Center (GAMC) will receive $375,000 to assist in renovations that will double the size of its emergency room. This renovation and upgrade will help improve access to emergency medical care in the region, which has suffered due to the recent closings of hospitals and emergency rooms in the area. GAMC is partnering with a local Federally Qualified Health Clinic to increase access to healthcare to the uninsured and underinsured population.
“Glendale Adventist has a century-long history of meeting the health care needs of this community with quality services,” said Morre Dean, President & CEO of Glendale Adventist Medical Center. “As access to health care continues to be a challenging national issue, we are proud to invest in this community's health well into the future. We greatly appreciate Congressman Schiff's work on behalf of GAMC and for the health of our community.”
Additionally, the bill includes $200,000 for the City of San Gabriel’s library improvement project. The San Gabriel Library will use the funds to support and expand the services which the library can provide the public, with a particular emphasis on services to youth and school-related activities. This project will help increase the level of library use by providing students with computers and other necessary tools to do research assignments.
Included in the bill is $150,000 for the Union Station Foundation of Pasadena for its Family Center. The funds will benefit homeless families through career development assistance, housing assistance, after-school activities, tutoring, and medical care. The services provided by the Family Center are directed toward offering homeless families the resources they need to transform their lives and become self-supporting.
“The homeless families who come to live at our 50-bed Family Center have nowhere else to turn and are often beset by numerous, complex problems. After their stay with us, so many are able to live independently in a healthy and productive manner,” said Union Station Executive Director Rabbi Marvin Gross.
The Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena will receive $75,000 for its Walk to Art program. The Walk to Art program offers free after-school and weekend art workshops that reach over 4,000 low-income children and youth each year. Walk to Art is taught by professional artists at libraries, parks, schools, community centers, and social service agencies, and it serves low-income neighborhoods in order to provide kids an opportunity they would otherwise not have to participate in art activities.
“Walk to Art provides important and otherwise absent programs to neighborhoods with profound challenges,” said Armory Center for the Arts Executive Director Scott Ward. “At a time of troubling violence and intolerance the Armory uses the power of art to transform lives and communities.”
Lastly, the appropriation measure also includes $125,000 for the North-West Pasadena Development Corporation (NWPDC) run by the Community Bible Church (CBC) for its "Families in Transition" (F.I.T.) program. The F.I.T. program provides families with needed education and job training assistance. The program provides families with a wide range of diverse life skills programs including job training, educational assistance, and parenting and independent living skills training.
“We’re grateful and excited to be included in this bill. These funds will enable us to expand our services in the Families in Transition Program as we continue to work towards transforming and improving the lives of those we serve in the City of Pasadena,” said Community Bible Church Pastor Jean Burch.