Dear Friend,

There's a lot of buzz in the media these days about people living longer. But for most people, the goal is not just living longer, but living well for as long as possible.  Living well means something different to each of us, but good health is the key.

•  For a child, health is about being able to run, dance and play, and feel good about your self.

•  For an adult in the middle and later years-health means having the energy for the things that give life meaning: favorite activities, families and friends, work and leisure.

•  For the elderly -health is about the strength and agility of body and mind to remain independent and in charge of one's own life.

The Northern California Center for Well-Being is committed to helping people have the best possible health across the lifespan, serving everyone from infants to seniors with health education, counseling and support. The Center's programs use proven educational and clinical methods to improve health and quality of life, helping people become stronger in body, mind and spirit.

Whether it is through quitting smoking, losing weight, managing chronic pain, preventing complications of diabetes or conditioning the heart , individuals who are served by the Center for Well-Being learn how to make both small and big changes in their lives that promote health.

Center programs lead to health benefits such as lower cholesterol, better blood sugar control, breathing easier and just feeling better . By investing in the prevention programs offered by the Center for Well-Being, you do more than improve the health of your neighbors. You also improve the health of our whole community, helping people to avoid unnecessary and costly hospital stays, be more productive at work and more involved in their community.    Over 4000 individuals and families are now served annually by the Center for Well-Being. Of those, nearly 30% are low income or uninsured and qualify for a reduced fee or scholarship . Your tax deductible gift to the Center will enable adults and children with health problems to benefit from the Center's high quality programs. While 80 cents of every dollar spent on the Center's programs is paid for by program participants, insurance companies, grants, and service contracts, the remaining 20 cents comes from people like you.

Just $34 provides a scholarship for two hours of class time in a typical Center program. Six hours of class time, or $102 will help someone make real progress in learning to take better care of themselves, providing them with knowledge, skills, and most importantly, with the support and encouragement needed to make lasting changes.

Your contribution will provide scholarships to low income adults and children, be used to purchase needed books and exercise equipment for Center classes, and to help the Center address emerging health needs in our community:

•  In April, in response to a call from the community, the Center launched the first ever Sonoma County smoking cessation program for pregnant women and new moms, designed to keep our children healthy and free from increased risk for asthma, SIDS, and other health conditions.

•  In response to local and national research on the importance of fall prevention in seniors, the Center is increasing its strength training and fall prevention programs for older adults .

•  And the Center is expanding its programs to help people at risk for diabetes and heart disease because of metabolic syndrome; working with local physicians to identify people at risk, and help them make needed lifestyle changes that can delay or prevent illness.

Won't you join the thousands of other Sonoma County residents who have been involved with the Center for Well-Being during its nine years of operation, by making a tax-deductible donation today? Please use the enclosed envelope for your donation, and help send a neighbor on the road to living well.

Yours in good health

Sandra DeBella Bodley, President

Northern California Center for Well-Being