On December 4, 2008 come join The Health Trust for the premiere of MILK, the heroic story of San Francisco activist/politician Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in America, starring Sean Penn and Josh Brolin. A special showing on Dec. 4 at the Camera 7 Cinema at the Pruneyard in Campbell will benefit The Health Trust AIDS Services.

Come early and join us for our reception before the screening from 6:00 to 7:30 pm and then join us at 7:30 pm in the theater for the premiere.

Academy Award winning Producer Dan Jinks will make a special appearance to discuss the film at 7:00!

Buy your tickets now!

Offices housing The Health Trust's AIDS Services, Meals On Wheels, and Wellness Access and Education programs are now located at 1400 Parkmoor, Suite 230, San Jose in space donated by the Sobrato Family Foundation.

The Health Trust has about 8,000 square feet of space at the site, enough for staff offices, meeting spaces, and client service areas. Several other major nonprofit organizations are also located in the new Sobrato Center for Nonprofits San Jose.

"Our foundation's mission is to support the people and places of local nonprofits as both are vital to their ability to successfully deliver high quality essential services in our community," said John M. Sobrato, Foundation Secretary and Trustee. "Because finding and retaining affordable, quality office space in our valley is an ongoing challenge for nonprofits, we were pleased to provide The Health Trust rent free space in our second Sobrato Center for Nonprofits to help support their pivotal role in providing essential services to our local community."

"This location is not just convenient for our clients, it will give us new opportunities to partner with other nonprofit agencies that share the building with us," said Frederick J. Ferrer, CEO of The Health Trust. "The generous donation of space to local community groups from the Sobrato Family Foundation has a huge impact on our ability to redirect the funds that would otherwise be going to rent to important community programs and services."

Administrative offices of The Health Trust will remain at 2105 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 220, Campbell.

The Health Trust report on the ability of Santa Clara County residents to access both health care and insurance coverage shows that the region's network of public and private health care resources is in a fragile state, and its weak spots have potential for affecting the lives of all residents in the region - no matter their age, current health status, or insurance coverage.

"Access Denied? Access to Health Care in Santa Clara County: Current Status and Future Risks" was commissioned by The Health Trust. The data was drawn from a variety of statistical studies compiled by public agencies, academic institutions and nonprofit organizations.

Key findings of the report include:

• Silicon Valley's health care system has not kept up with population growth and demand. There is a shortage of physicians and other health care providers overall, and an alarming decrease in the number of physicians and health care providers who feel they can afford to treat individuals with Medi-Cal coverage (which provides reimbursement rates lower than the cost of care) and those who are uninsured.
  
  
• Santa Clara County has one of the lowest ratios of hospital beds to population of any urban area in the nation, and is at risk of becoming even worse with the potential closing of one private hospital and the loss of another 272 beds if Santa Clara Valley Medical Center cannot fund rebuilding required under state law to meet seismic safety requirements.
  
  
• Emergency room visits to hospitals in Santa Clara County increased 23.3 percent between 2003 and 2007. More than five hours every day of the year, at least one hospital in Santa Clara County has to divert ambulances away from its emergency room because it is at full capacity.
  
  
• Despite recent gains, Santa Clara County still has an estimated 140,000 adults and children without health insurance coverage, and an additional 151,000 residents who are underinsured. Not only does the lack of adequate health insurance have financial consequences, research has shown that individuals without insurance typically don't have a "medical home" - a regular doctor or clinic that provides most of their care. Such patients have worse health outcomes; many of those affected have chronic health conditions and are racial and ethnic minorities.

Jose Luis Comerena was diagnosed with diabetes only two years ago, but the disease has already cost him his sight and the amputation of both legs. He recently was enrolled in Valley Care, a new County insurance program for citizens who have not had any health insurance coverage for at least 90 days and whose family income is less than 200 percent of the federal poverty level.

He also has enrolled in the chronic disease management workshop offered in Spanish by The Health Trust's Wellness Access and Education program. He and his wife attend weekly meetings to learn to manage Jose's diabetes.

"The first thing I learned about was nutrition," Jose said. "We learned how to prepare foods so that we consume less fat and calories. We learned how to maintain a balanced diet."

Diabetes cannot be "cured," but medical experts say that individuals with diabetes can lead long and healthy lives if they have access to medical supervision, insulin-monitoring supplies, medication, and chronic disease management education.

For more information on chronic disease management workshops, visit www.healthtrust.org or email us at info@healthtrust.org.

The Health Trust's 2008 Annual Report can now be downloaded (PDF), or copies may be requested by calling Debi Bingham at (408) 559-5594 or debib@healthtrust.org.

Here are a few highlights of The Health Trust's achievements last year:

• 97,000 nutritious meals delivered to Meals On Wheels clients
• 4,000 visits to the Neil A. Christie Living Center for individuals with HIV/AIDS
• 5,000 dental treatments for children
• 200,000 free health screenings
• 25,580 commnity volunteer hours and many more!

The Health Trust has made a $100,000 grant to The Tech Museum of Innovation to help develop a new 1,000-square-foot exhibit area within the museum's LifeTech Gallery called "Project Stay Healthy."

When open in 2010, the exhibit will feature state-of-the-art technological tools that visitors can use to measure and compare their health indicators against recommended norms, and receive information on how to improve change nutrition and physical activity to improve their health.

"As we strive to better understand health and to try to directly improve it through education, the significance of our collaboration with The Health Trust becomes clear," said Peter Friess, President of The Tech Museum of Innovation. "Thanks to The Health Trust's grant, we've moved closer to creating a new, interactive gallery meant to inform the public about cutting-edge technological tools they can use to monitor their health and better understand the benefits of proper diet and regular exercise. We look forward to continuing our strong relationship with The Health Trust as we endeavor to build a unique exhibit to raise health as a public priority."

Register your email at our homepage so that you will be among the first to get details of these exciting events:

MARCH

• Physical Activity Symposium - A conference on tools, practical tips and best practices for those working in th field of physical fitness for older adults.
• 4th annual Mayors for Meals - Mayors from throughout Santa Clara County deliver hot, nutritious meals to their constituents.

• Dining Out For Life - Enjoy local restaurants and support The Health Trust AIDS Services

• Human Race of Silicon Valley - 10K and 5K Run, 5K Walk and 5K Dog Walk on May 9. Run or walk to support Meals On Wheels.

• The Health Trust announces a new category of grants - event grants. Grants range from $250 to $5,000 for events such as health fairs, sponsored walks, or community convenings that directly align with The Health Trust Initiatives. Applicants must submit an application form to The Health Trust at least 30 days prior to the event. To learn more about the criteria and how to submit, visit www.healthtrust.org/grants.
  
  
• Cheryl Walter of The Health Trust Financial and Administrative Support Services was honored this fall by the Friends Outside Board of Directors for her dedication to providing accounting services to the organization, including up-to-date financial records that can be used for new grant applications. Friends Outside, which provides services to inmates, ex-offenders and their families, is one of 19 nonprofit clients served by Financial and Administrative Support Services.
  
  
• Seventy-one employees of The Health Trust contributed $24,000 to the annual United Way Campaign, exceeding the goal of $20,000.
  
  
• Members of The Health Trust executive team met with 50 representatives of nonprofit organizations in San Benito County this fall to talk about The Health Trust's Initiatives and grants program. Since its formation in 1996 from the proceeds of the sale of three local hospitals, The Health Trust has continued to serve the communities that fell within the catchment area of those hospitals which includes Santa Clara County and northern San Benito County. Earlier this year, The Health Trust provided the San Benito Health Foundation Dental Program with dental treatment equipment valued at $20,000 so that the clinic could expand to see as many as 60 patients a day.   Read the news release.
  
  
• Marisa Phan, Vice President at Wells Fargo, presents a $5,000 donation to Health Trust CEO Frederick J. Ferrer to support the Wellness Access & Education program.
  
  
• The Health Trust has provided local public libraries with copies of the award-winning PBS documentary "Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?" so that more people in Silicon Valley can view the four-hour film. Check out the DVD from the San José Public Library, the Santa Clara County Library (Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Saratoga), or the Los Gatos Public Library.

Five Silicon Valley organizations were among 78 employers in the state to be honored with Fit Business Awards, an annual recognition by the California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness. The Health Trust supported the awards program with a grant.

Physical inactivity, obesity and other health-related problems are estimated to cost California businesses an estimated $28 billion in lost productivity, workers' compensation, as well as direct and indirect medical costs each year.

"It's good business for employers to be concerned about the health of their workers, and to use the workplace to provide information and opportunities for healthy living," said Dr. Amor Santiago of The Health Trust. "A key strategy of the Healthy Living Initiative is to work closely with employers on innovative programs that focus on prevention and wellness."

Local award winners include Cisco Systems, Sun Microsystems, BD Biosciences, Kaiser Permanente, Broncus Technologies in Mountain View, and Rebekah Children's Services in Gilroy.

Award-winning wellness programs included: employee sporting tournaments ranging from basketball and volleyball to horseshoes and table tennis; nutrition education, cooking classes and farmers market tours; health fairs, stress reduction seminars and health clinic screenings; interactive wellness websites; free fitness/health classes; and physical activity breaks.

"The majority of our waking hours are spent at work, so the workplace is in many ways the best place for people to change their behavior," Dr. Santiago added. "Taking the stairs instead of the elevator, meeting while walking, storing healthy snacks in your desk, practicing stress reduction techniques, providing on-site exercise equipment - all of these are easy ways to make the workplace more conducive to healthy living."

In 2009, The Health Trust will launch a package of workplace wellness services for Silicon Valley corporations, public agencies and nonprofit organizations. Details will be announced early next year.

The California Task Force on Youth and Workplace Wellness is a public/private collaboration focused on creating and promoting policies to improve health and fitness and lower obesity rates in California schools and workplaces.

The Health Trust is funding outreach to Silicon Valley businesses to encourage them to participate in the 2009 Fit Business Awards program.

The Health Trust is continuing its efforts to urge cities and the county to integrate health elements into their General Plans as they are being updated. A presentation was made to the Santa Clara County Cities Association, and every community was provided with toolkits produced by Planning for Healthy Places, a project of Public Health Law and Policy. For more information on the project and to access the toolkits, visit www.healthyplanning.org/toolkits.html.

A Community Health Information Center is now open at the Joyce Ellington Branch Library, 491 E. Empire St., in downtown San Jose to provide health books, periodicals and DVDs in English, Spanish and Vietnamese. The center was created by San José Public Library and PlaneTree Health Library, with funding from The Health Trust in partnership with the San José Public Library Foundation.

A new website, www.walkscore.com, which examined more than 2,500 neighborhoods in America's 40 largest cities including San Jose, has found that 38% of San Jose residents live in car-dependent neighborhoods. Other residents are more fortunate to live in areas that are pedestrian-friendly with safe, well-connected sidewalks and plenty of public places to gather and play.

You can enter any address in the City of San Jose into the website's database and get an instant walkability score. Top ranking within the City, according to walkscore.com's criteria, are the Buena Vista, Burbank and Rose Garden neighborhoods.

More than 75 elected officials and professional staff from Silicon Valley cities and Santa Clara County attended a Healthy Silicon Valley leadership summit on planning and policy for healthy environments in October. What they heard from keynote speaker Dr. Richard Jackson was a warning that now is the time to "confront the perfect storm of health, environment and economic factors" that could threaten our community's health.

The built environment - how and where homes and workplaces are built- can significantly impact America's health, according to Dr. Jackson, professor and chair of the Environmental Health Sciences Department in the UCLA School of Public Health. He points to the obesity epidemic and rising rates of chronic diseases like diabetes as indicators that better urban planning solutions are needed in some communities.

Dr. Jackson urged participants to pay more attention to the built environment and consider policy changes that will create communities that are walkable, bikeable, more socially engaging and, ultimately, healthier.

To view his full powerpoint presentation, visit www.healthysiliconvalley.org/events. The Health Trust was a sponsor of this event.

• Increase community/school gardens and urban sustainable agriculture
• Encourage inclusion of a health element in city and county General Plans
• Develop organizational wellness services
• Support healthy behaviors with social marketing campaigns
• Provide leadership and coordination of the Healthy Silicon Valley Collaborative

The Health Trust placed 5th in the Silicon Valley Marathon's Corporate Speed Challenge which adds the times of the fastest three half-marathon runners to get a cumulative score.

Health Trust staffers Paul Hepfer, Derek Matthews and Amanda Strelzik ran the 13.1 miles with an average time of one hour, 52 minutes and 46 seconds. Top corporate speed teams came from Apple, Google, Alps Electric and Cisco. The Health Trust was a charity of the Silicon Valley Marathon.

Hundreds of volunteers engage Flea Market shoppers in activities about health and wellness

More than 300 volunteers, many of them health science and nursing students from San Jose State University, joined The Health Trust to present the 7th Open Air Health Fair at the San Jose Berryessa Flea Market in October. 

In addition to free health screenings, the event featured dozens of fun and educational activities for the whole family, including a new "arcade" of high tech video exercise games with interactive boxing, kickboxing, skateboard/snowboard, and stationary bike equipment.

Shoppers were offered free flu shots, blood pressure readings, BMI (Body Mass Index) calculations, assistance in enrolling in health insurance programs and chronic disease management workshops. Information on nutrition, exercise, smoking cessation and other health promotion topics was provided in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.

World AIDS Day on Dec. 1 is an appropriate time to reflect on the achievements made in treating the deadly disease - and the still-too-many number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Silicon Valley and around the globe.

More than 800 local residents, ranging in age from 19 to 84, currently receive assistance from The Health Trust AIDS Services, the largest provider of services to individuals with HIV/AIDS in Santa Clara County.

"Thanks to the wonders of medicine, many with HIV/AIDS are able to lead successful, full, rich lives" said Frederick J. Ferrer, CEO of The Health Trust. "But not everyone is that fortunate."

The Health Trust provides a safety net for the most vulnerable who struggle to manage the chronic disease and maintain quality of life. They need help with housing, food, benefits, and other basic necessities. For some, this means encouraging them to seek medical care more frequently.

"We are making a serious effort to locate people who have fallen through the cracks and have not seen a doctor about their HIV/AIDS for a year or more," said Robert Smart, Program Associate with The Health Trust AIDS Services. "There are different reasons why they may have stopped getting medical care. We want to help them overcome any obstacles standing in their way."

Regular visits to a doctor help ensure that medications are taken consistently and lab results monitored, leading to better health and longevity.

It's hard to get people in general to visit a doctor on a regular basis, and there are often additional barriers to overcome for individuals with HIV/AIDS such as access to transportation, health insurance coverage, fear of the health care system, substance abuse, denial, shame, language, culture, or just not feeling well enough to make the appointment and keep it.

"AIDS is not over. We must still be vigilant about this disease," added Ferrer. "In a time of global economic crises and challenges, it comes down to the basics of how we all invest our time, energy and efforts. Caring for those with a disease that has no cure and who have less ability to take care of themselves is a basic responsibility of the community. We invite others to join us in helping those who are most vulnerable among us."

The Health Trust will celebrate World AIDS Day along with other community organizations at the San Jose City Hall Rotunda on Dec. 1 at 6:30 p.m. The event is led by the Metropolitan Community Church of San Jose and will honor local leaders in the fight against AIDS.

You can make a donation or volunteer to support AIDS Services by clicking on the links in the upper righthand corner of The Health Trust website:  www.healthtrust.org.

Ghandhi's statement that "We want to be the change we want to see in the world" inspired employees of The Health Trust to challenge themselves physically and participate in the 19th annual AIDS Walk. "Team Health Trust," comprised of 77 staff and their family and friends, raised $10,727 in pledge donations.

Altogether, more than 4,500 took part in the 10K walk through Guadalupe River Park in downtown San Jose. It was organized by the AIDS Coalition Silicon Valley and proceeds were distributed to local agencies supporting individuals with HIV/AIDS including The Health Trust AIDS Services.

Health Trust CEO Frederick J. Ferrer and professional coach Bill Griffiths led an eight-week training program that included walks Wednesday evenings and Saturday mornings to get participants ready for this event and the Silicon Valley Marathon.

"My goal was for us to be together and support each other as an organization, to continue to improve our fitness levels, and have some fun," said Ferrer. "We walked to honor our clients and staff. In all of these ways we were successful."

The Health Trust is launching The Red Ribbon Society as a special way to recognize individual donors for their generosity and commitment to supporting The Health Trust AIDS Services with a cumulative annual contribution of $1,000 or more.

An inaugural reception was held Nov. 13 at La Estancia, the historic Los Gatos estate of Larry Arzie and David Stonesifer. A premiere showing will be in December of the film MILK, the story of California's first openly gay elected official, starring Sean Penn and Josh Brolin. Other special events for members of The Red Ribbon Society are planned for 2009, including the National Dining Out for Life on Thursday, April 30. In addition to a variety of social events throughout the year, The Red Ribbon Society will offer its members updates on the fight against HIV/AIDS and opportunities to participate in activities that strengthen the mission of AIDS Services.

For more information on The Red Ribbon Society, contact Dennise Carter, Vice President of External Affairs, at (408) 559-5598 or dennisec@healthtrust.org.

Mary Ellen and Mike Fox, Sr. have agreed to play a leadership role in the work of The Health Trust and seeking investment partners, particularly for the organization's Healthy Communities Initiative.

"These two well-respected philanthropists have given so much to the Silicon Valley community," said Health Trust CEO Frederick J. Ferrer, "We are honored that they have chosen to lend their leadership, time, passion and commitment to The Health Trust."

"The Health Trust's vision embraces everyone in Silicon Valley," said Mary Ellen Fox. "We are pleased to support their efforts, and to help find investment partners so that families and individuals in our community don't have to choose between food on the table or medical and dental care."

The Healthy Communities Initiative includes strategies to end health disparities, improve access to health care, and provide critically-needed services to the most vulnerable, including AIDS Services, children's dental care, and wellness access and education.

Dr. Julie Gerberding, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), will keynote a The Health Trust's Health Disparities Summit in February, 2009.

Earlier this year, the CDC and Dr. Gerberding launched a Healthiest Nation campaign with a focus on keeping Americans healthy by increasing an emphasis on prevention and improving the integration of health into social policies and land use decisions. This campaign mirrors the prevention and environmental change strategies of The Health Trust's Healthy Communities Initiative and our vision of making Silicon Valley the healthiest region in America.

"We are thrilled that Dr. Gerberding has accepted our invitation to speak here in Silicon Valley on the critical national issues of wellness," said Frederick J. Ferrer, CEO of The Health Trust. "Her leadership at the CDC aligns with our work and the importance of wellness for all members of the community."

Keep updated at www.healthtrust.org for future information.

• Address the root causes of health disparities
• Provide access to prevention, screening, and management of chronic diseases
• Expand oral health prevention, education and treatment services
• Increase healthcare coverage and linkage to services

A one-day conference for individuals who work in the field of physical fitness for older adults will be held in March by The Health Trust. The Physical Activity Summit is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 27, 2009, at Santa Clara University.

Participants will learn about some of the best programs for older adults ranging from falls prevention classes and resources to community walking programs. Conference tracks target the interests of both administrators and hands-on instructors with information on motivating older adults, marketing programs, body mechanics awareness, and exercise for at-risk elders.

A compendium of physical activity best practices and resources will be distributed along with information about Health Trust grant opportunities for expanding and enhancing programs in this area.

Watch The Health Trust website www.healthtrust.org for more details

The Health Trust drivers who deliver hot meals every day to our Meals On Wheels clients soon find they get as much back in emotional gratification as the seniors do in seeing a friendly face every day. Here are a few comments from drivers about their experience:

"I fell in love with my clients. You become part of their family, caring about each other."

"I feel inspired and happy to help them with things they can no longer do, such as taking out their garbage, putting laundry in the dryer, moving things, etc."

"There is self satisfaction in knowing that we care about each other. I am so happy when I visit and talk to them each day."

"Helping them stay in their own homes and not going into a facility is why I love doing this."

"When we talk and interact, I can tell that they are enjoying our interaction and I am taking the loneliness away a little."

More volunteers are needed to serve the growing needs of Silicon Valley's aging population. For information, call The Health Trust at (408) 961-9870 or learn more online at www.healthtrust.org/services/mow.php.

The approach of year end is a time to reflect on our successes while looking forward to the challenges that lay ahead. The Health Trust has made significant achievements in 2008, but there is still much to do.

Please consider making a financial gift to support our valuable work in the community. The generosity of people like you is what will make it possible to transform Silicon Valley into the healthiest region in America. All gifts, regardless of size, demonstrate your confidence and trust in our leadership and commitment to this vision. We are deeply honored by your enthusiasm for our mission, and appreciate your support.

Donations are accepted online or by mail, addressed to The Health Trust, attention: Frederick J. Ferrer, 2105 S. Bascom Ave., Suite 220, Campbell, CA 95008.

Barbie and her husband Frank first started using Meals On Wheels almost three years ago when she developed problems with her knee and her mobility. Later, when she started having problems with her eyesight, home delivered meals became critically important as she had more difficulty preparing meals at home.

"It has been a blessing," Barbie says.

Barbie also enjoys the regular visits from Kathee, a Health Trust Meals On Wheels volunteer who delivers her meals.

"Kathee is my girl," she says with a big smile. Barbie and Kathee both laugh as they recount the story of how Kathee enlisted her husband to install and program Barbie's TV and new DVD player. "He's like the son I never had," Barbie adds.

Barbie and Frank also rely on Meals on Wheels to assist the other member of their small household, a black and white cat named Puddy. "Meals On Wheels has also brought me cat food," Barbie explains, adding that this has been extremely helpful for an aging couple living on a fixed income.

When Kathee arrives she sets out the meals - chicken, vegetables, juice, fruit and milk - for Barbie and Frank. After a brief visit, she leaves with a very fond farewell.

"See you soon." "Love you!" Barbie replies. "Love you, too!" Kathy answers.

The Health Trust has made a $100,000 grant ($50,000 per year for two years) to help fund primary and preventive health and wellness services to low-income Asian seniors in Silicon Valley.

"Healthy Aging for Asian Americans" is a project of Asian Americans for Community Involvement (AACI), which operates the only community clinic in Santa Clara County focused on the Asian American population. The objectives of the project are to: 1) increase annual primary care visits by 500; 2) prescribe exercise/physical activity for pre-diabetic patients; and 3) refer 150 pre-diabetic patients to AACI's Senior Wellness Program or other physical activity opportunities in order to prevent or delay the progression to type II diabetes.

It is estimated that 18 percent of Asians in California age 65 and over have diabetes, compared to 14 percent of the white population in the same age bracket, according to a report from the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network.

• Expand physical activity opportunities
• Increase social connections and healthy nutrition
• Improve transitions from hospital to home
• Provide support for caregivers
• Provide leadership and coordination of the Aging Services Collaborative

Brochures describing resources for caregivers in Silicon Valley are now available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin.

Published as a project of the Aging Services Collaborative with funding from The Health Trust and Kaiser Permanente, distribution will be through partner agencies including MACSA, Yu-ai Kai, Alzheimer's Association, Catholic Charities, Council on Aging, and others. It can also be downloaded from the Aging Services Collaborative website, www.sccagingcollaborative.org.

"Caregivers often feel alone and don't know where to turn for help," said Lori Andersen, Director of Healthy Aging at The Health Trust. "The stress and long hours of caregiving soon put the caregiver's health at risk, too. We hope this informative brochure will help point people to existing resources in the community that can support them in many ways."

With more than 30 years of experience working in the nonprofit world, I am no stranger to the challenge of maintaining services to the community when the economy does one of its dramatic freefalls.

But nothing in the past three decades - not even the dot-com bubble burst in 2000-01 -- rivals the breadth and depth of the current economic fissure that is tearing up the U.S. and, indeed, the world. Economists who rarely agree about anything are in accord that what we have seen in the past few months is stunning in its rapid decline.

For The Health Trust, the economic crisis is an opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to our vision of Silicon Valley as the healthiest region in America. In this time of high stress, maintaining and enhancing our health becomes more important than ever. The true test of our wellness is what you do under stress, not on vacation.

Our coping strategies include being prudent and cautious with resources, and looking for innovative ways to do more with less. The Health Trust is already in conversation with Second Harvest Food Bank, FIRST 5, and the Santa Clara County Public Health Department about how we can work together more closely to coordinate and integrate our services.

The Health Trust will continue to make grants to support community health and wellness programs and services, especially those emphasizing prevention and helping our most vulnerable residents. Our Financial and Administrative Support Services will take on new clients so that more nonprofit organizations can rely on us for accurate financial information and focus their efforts on fulfilling their missions.

After 9-11, Fred Rogers (of TV's Mister Rogers Neighborhood fame) told parents that the best way to help their children overcome the frightening images they were seeing on TV was by pointing out the heroes who step forward in a tragedy. If you are feeling a lack of security in your own life, comfort can come from helping out someone else.

Philanthropy now is counter cyclical. The more that money becomes tight, the more there is a need to share resources with those who are struggling with basics like food, shelter and health care. Together with the Packard Foundation, United Way, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, and other major nonprofit agencies, we are reaching out to donors and asking them to be heroes and open their arms to give more.

I doubt there are many people who feel totally secure right now, but I do feel confident that there are many people who have the ability and willingness to step up to the challenge this economy is presenting us and show true leadership.

We at The Health Trust must strive for solutions; the health and wellness of our community are too important not to. We can't make up for the national economic turmoil, or the additional budget cuts that are sure to be coming from state and local government budgets, but we also can't add to the problem by retreating from our mission and vision.

Tighten our belts, watch every penny, get more creative. Easier said than done, I know, but we have weathered hard times before and together we can provide hope and solutions to get through this one too.