Kaiser Permanente Dedicates 2016 Rose Parade® Float to Those “Helping Mother Nature Thrive”

Riding on Float will be Nine Individuals who are Cultivating
Healthier Communities

PASADENA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–“Helping Mother Nature Thrive,” Kaiser Permanente’s 2016 Rose Parade®
float, celebrates the work and dedication of those building healthier
communities and helps promote the importance of taking everyday steps to
protect and enrich the environment. Creating healthy communities is
central to Kaiser Permanente’s mission and, by supporting numerous
partners and programs, is able to transform and improve the
neighborhoods where people live, work, learn and play.

“We know that good health is easier to achieve when people are
surrounded by a healthy environment,” said Benjamin
K. Chu
, MD, MPH, MACP, regional president, Kaiser Permanente
Southern California. “We not only support the green efforts of our
community partners, but we are working to transform the health care
sector so that it is ecologically sustainable and supportive of public
health and the environment.”

Kaiser Permanente’s Environmental
Stewardship program
is central to the organization’s Community
Benefit mission and vision for total health. For the past 70 years,
Kaiser Permanente has aspired to provide health care services in a
manner that protects and enhances the environment and the health of the
communities it serves. These efforts have transformed into results, and
Kaiser Permanente has been able to decrease waste and pollutants,
conserve water and energy, promote sustainable agriculture and food
procurement and take steps to reduce its carbon footprint.

Riding on the float this year will be nine
individuals
who have all participated in and benefited from Kaiser
Permanente Community Benefit programs. Through Healthy
Eating Active Living
(HEAL) zones, scholarship opportunities and the Summer
Youth Employment Program
, they continue to encourage healthy
communities and partner with other nonprofit organizations to open up
access, share knowledge and create environments that empower better
health. They are not only cultivating and improving the health and
quality of life in their communities, but are also doing their part to
help build an environment where good health can flourish.

The riders include: two high school students who are helping to fight
obesity through “Activate
Whittier
;” a sophomore at Stanford University who, besides being a
health educator and advocate, is an ambassador for African dance; a
Tai-Chi instructor committed to helping others find a balance of
mind, body and spirit; a medical student dedicated to
providing culturally responsive care; a freshman at UC Berkeley who is
reclaiming the alleys in his neighborhood and turning them into healthy
green spaces; a nurse using public murals to educate patients with type
2 diabetes; a nursing student working to improve the emotional health of
children in Santa Ana; and a freshman at Cal State Long Beach who has
overcome physical and environmental challenges and is now dedicating
himself to helping others by pursuing a career in health.

“This year’s float riders epitomize Kaiser Permanente’s vision to create
thriving communities through partnership and collaboration,” said Angela
Coron, managing director, Community Benefit, Kaiser Permanente Southern
California. “The dedication, hard work, and ingenuity displayed by these
individuals is truly inspiring. They demonstrate that, together, we can
achieve better health for the people in our diverse communities.”

“Helping Mother Nature Thrive,” Kaiser Permanente’s 11th
Rose Parade float entry, demonstrates the organization’s commitment to
building healthy environments. Designed and built once again by Fiesta
Parade Floats
, all of Kaiser Permanente’s past float entries have
received an award, including the Judge’s Special Trophy for the most
spectacular in showmanship and dramatic impact (2015); Theme Trophy for
excellence in presenting the parade theme (2013); Lathrop K. Leishman
Trophy for the most beautiful float entry from a non-commercial sponsor
(2012, 2014); Director’s Trophy for most artistic merit in design and
floral presentation (2011, 2008, 2006); Extraordinaire Trophy for the
“most spectacular” float longer than 55 feet (2010); Tournament Special
Trophy for exceptional merit in multiple classifications (2009); and
President’s Trophy for most effective floral use and presentation (2007).

For additional information about the 2016 Rose Parade, please visit the Tournament
of Roses
website. For more information about the Kaiser Permanente
Rose Parade Float, “Helping Mother Nature Thrive,” please follow us on Facebook
and Twitter.

About Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit Program

Kaiser Permanente’s Community Benefit program is committed to improving
the health of the communities we serve and reducing health disparities
through community partnerships with the safety net of community clinics,
public health departments, public hospitals, and other agencies.
Community Benefit also helps increase access to quality health care and
coverage, regardless of income, through our charity care and charitable
coverage programs; supports community groups to inspire people to make
positive changes for health through our Healthy Eating Active Living
programs and Community Health Initiatives; and shares our medical
knowledge, expertise, and research to help Southern California people
live healthier lives. For more info, visit www.community.kp.org

About Kaiser Permanente Southern California

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 more than 4 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 follow us on twitter; @KPSCALNews
or go to: www.kp.org/share.

Contacts

Kaiser Permanente
Mayra Suarez
Office: 626-405-2652
Mobile:
310-710-8479
mayra.suarez@kp.org

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