July 2, 2004

NewsBriefs

Kenny Loggins headlines local children’s benefit

Mark your calendars for Sunday, July 18 when Grammy-award winner Kenny Loggins will headline the Summer Symphony 2004, an annual benefit for the Children’s Health Council (CHC) at Stanford University’s Frost Amphitheater. This year’s concert marks the end of CHC’s 50th anniversary year. It will feature a special performance by the California Youth Symphony.

“The event is important for several reasons. For many people, this event introduces them to CHC and lets them know what we do and who we serve,” says event co-chair Lou Ann Winchell. “It also raises a significant amount of money for the agency, which enables us to offer services to children and families who otherwise could not afford them.”
Proceeds from Summer Symphony allow CHC to provide evaluation and treatment services to children facing complex behavioral and developmental challenges. Last year’s concert featuring legendary trio Peter, Paul and Mary raised a record-breaking $605,000.

Corporate and individual sponsorship opportunities and ticket packages are still available for purchase. Individual ticket prices are chair, $75 ($20 tax-deductible); lawn, $50; and child (11 and under), $25. General tickets are available online at www.summersymphony.org or by calling (650) 617-3859.

Pool safety

Keep children safe around water

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for young children in California. For each child who drowns, four more are hospitalized for near drowning. In light of the swim season, pool safety advocates are offering their expertise to keep children safe this summer.

“When it comes to child safety, the stakes are simply too high to take chances,” said Robert Jechart of the Pool Safety Alliance and president of RJE Technologies. “You want to know that you’re utilizing the very best to safeguard your child’s life.” Jechart is a founding board member of The Pool Safety Alliance, a collaboration between children’s health and safety advocates, and pool designers, builders, manufacturers and related agencies that provide a safety resource for the pool industry.    

“A large percentage of drowning occurs when pools are in use, with parents poolside and pool safety mechanisms turned off,” comments Jechart. “Parents fail to understand that they truly have only minutes to act once a child falls into the water. Brain damage or death can occur in less than eight minutes. Sometimes, there is simply not enough time to wait for paramedics to arrive to save a child.”

To learn more about pool safety and options available for Northern California families, log onto www.poolcoversinc.com or visit www.poolsafetyalliance.org.