Archived News Release from 2006

For Immediate Release

Redwood City 2020 Awarded Grant from Peninsula Community Foundation for Sequoia Teen Resource Center

Redwood City, CA - October 13 , 2006 - Local collaborative Redwood City 2020 has been awarded a $39,000 grant from Peninsula Community Foundation for its Sequoia Teen Resource Center (Center) based at Sequoia High School. The Center provides a variety of positive health and youth development opportunities to Sequoia High School students.

The grant will be used to support the core operations of the Center, which provides mentoring, youth development, mental health, case management, pregnancy and STD education and health education to students in collaboration with the County of San Mateo, Youth and Family Enrichment Services, and Sequoia Union High School District.

“Peninsula Community Foundation is thrilled to partner with Redwood City 2020 in providing meaningful opportunities for kids at Sequoia High School to improve their overall social and emotional health," states Frank Lalle, Senior Program Officer. Peninsula Community Foundation is merging with Community Foundation Silicon Valley to become Silicon Valley Community Foundation, serving all of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Information is available at www.pcf.org.

Redwood City 2020 hired an outside evaluator to conduct an evaluation of the Center. The evaluation highlights include:

• 73% increase in GPA for students involved in the Mentoring program
• 62% of the students who increased their attendance also increased their grades
• 100% of students stated that they did not want to get pregnant or get their partner pregnant
• 83% of the students receiving mental health services reported that their specific issue was resolved
• 82% reported success in reduction of their use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs
• 100% of the confidential service visits resulted in birth control usage
• 92% of the students in group sessions stated that they have taken steps to improve their health
• Overall reduction in consumption of unhealthy food by girls in the Latina Curves group.

Redwood City 2020 is a remarkable community partnership, designed to support the success of all youth and families and to engage and strengthen the community. This collaboration is comprised of the City of Redwood City, the Redwood City Elementary School District, the Sequoia Union High School District, San Mateo County, Stanford University / John W. Gardner Center, Wells Fargo Bank, the Sequoia Healthcare District, and Kaiser Permanente.

Visit Redwood City’s award-winning website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, and local business. Take a look at the variety of City webcams at redwoodcity.org/webcam, and subscribe to Redwood City’s email newsletter by emailing e-news@redwoodcity.org.

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Contact:

Tajel Shah, Executive Director
Redwood City 2020
650-423-2217