Press Releases: Southern California
June 25, 2010
Kaiser Permanente Brings Operation Splash Back to the City of Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — The first week of summer is now official with today’s launch of Kaiser Permanente’s Operation Splash at the historic Griffith Park Pool, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks’ largest and oldest public pool. Since 2006, Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to Operation Splash has grown to nearly $2 million in funding to support the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks’ swim safety programs.
“Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping communities thrive by creating opportunities for families to be active and healthy,” said Benjamin K. Chu, MD, MPH, president of Kaiser Permanente Southern California. “Parks, playgrounds, and pools like the historic Griffith Park facility are vital parts of healthy, livable communities, and are essential to physical and emotional health.”
Today’s Operation Splash VIPs included the Expo Center’s youth synchronized swimming team and children from Glassell and Chevy Chase Recreation Centers Summer Camp. Also there to celebrate the aquatic activities was the Udave family, who learned to swim at the city’s pools and went on to participate in the swim sports and junior lifeguard programs. Jose and Maria Udave are now part-time seasonal pool managers, and Daniel, the youngest at age 14, is a junior lifeguard, and a member of the Eagle Rock High School's water polo and swim teams.
“Operation Splash will kick off a summer of safe, healthy and fun activities at city pools by providing vital services, such as free swimming lessons, for children and their parents during the hot summer months,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. “This partnership with Kaiser Permanente will transform city pools into a summertime oasis where children can meet new friends and develop a routine of regular exercise.”
For the 2010 summer, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks received a $250,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente Southern California that will fund free swim lessons for 6,000 low-income youth and adults at 35 pools across the city. Operation Splash will support free junior lifeguard training for 780 low-income youths at 49 city pools, and extend the summer swim season for one week at seven city pools serving about 10,000 pool patrons.
Joining the effort to make youngsters water safe and provide them with the opportunity to participate in water polo, synchronized swimming and diving is the LA84 Foundation. Over the last 25 years the Foundation has consistently assisted the City’s efforts to provide youngsters with access to quality sports programs.
“I am very pleased that even in this difficult financial time, through the efforts of the mayor, the city council, and our partners like Kaiser Permanente and the LA84 Foundation, we will be able to offer a full summer swim season at all of our pools,” said Jon Kirk Mukri, general manager, Department of Recreation and Parks. “Department of Recreation and Parks pools offer many exciting programs in a fun, safe, and supervised environment; and remember kids under the age of 18 swim free!”
Operation Splash developed as part of Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) efforts to reduce obesity in the community by broadening opportunities for access to healthy foods and daily physical activity. Additional grants to Bakersfield, Ventura, San Bernardino, Riverside, Coachella Valley, and Chula Vista have brought the total for Southern California to $2.5 million.
“Right now, pediatric obesity is getting a lot of attention,” said Jeffrey A. Weisz, MD, executive medical director, Southern California Permanente Medical Group. “But at Kaiser Permanente, we have long worked with parents, schools, community leaders, and legislators to create healthier environments for kids. Operation Splash is one shining example.”
Children and their parents can check their eligibility at local participating community pools. For more information, call the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks at 323 906-7953 or email at Citywide.Aquatics@lacity.org.
About the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks Aquatic Division
The City of Los Angeles, Recreation and Parks Department, Aquatics Division offers families and community members many healthy, affordable and safe aquatic activities at their public pools, lakes and beaches. The Aquatics Division operates 59 swimming pools, 10 lakes and a beach. In addition, the city operates 11 open water facilities. For more information please visit www.laparks.org.
About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 3.3 million members in Southern California. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.
