PRESS RELEASE

Plainfield Health Center Selects "Healthy Children, Healthy Families" Calendar Contest Winners
Program Promotes Elementary School Level Health Awareness

For Immediate Release: Tuesday, January 29, 2002-PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY- The Plainfield Health Center, one of twelve Federally Qualified Health Centers in New Jersey, dedicated to providing cost effective primary health care services for the residents of Plainfield and surrounding communities, announced today the winners of its annual "Healthy Children, Healthy Families" calendar contest. The calendar contest is a community program between the Plainfield Health Center and local schools.

This program, initiated in 1995, is aimed at getting youngsters to think about dental health, eye care, family health, child safety, and the need for immunizations. A panel of independent judges selected the winning pictures, which were then featured in the Plainfield Health Center calendar, "Healthy Children, Healthy Families." All those who entered received a prize for their participation and their work. The selected winners are: Tyree Bay, 2nd grade, Cook School; Danielle McDuffie, 1st grade, St. Elizabeth's of Hungary, Linden; Antwan Gallman, 4th grade, Rising Stars Program; Horace Allen, 5th grade, Woodland School; Ryan Baird, 2nd grade, Cook School; Jessica Gomez, 4th grade, West End School; Jameel Warney, 2nd grade, Cook School; Michelle Jines, 5th grade, Woodland School; Jessica Veliz, 2nd grade,Cook School; Tatyana Butler, Kindergarten, St. Bernard's School; Niasia Ratcliffe Pringley, 4th grade, Cook School; Aleyah Benson, 5th grade, Woodland School; Kalyn Johnson Tucker, 5th grade, Woodland School.

"The children were so enthusiastic about participating in this contest," said Shirley Johnson-Tucker, Principal, Woodland School. "In fact, when the word got around, so many of our students wanted to know if they could participate next year."

"This is one of many wonderful community events that the Plainfield Health Center sponsors, and truly one that's most fun," said Julane Miller-Armbrister, President and CEO. "The children really work hard at their drawings and are thrilled to see their work hanging at the center, and for those selected, printed in the calendar. We wish we could have included every one of the drawings. The added bonus is that the contest also raises an awareness among the participants about health care and what can be done to protect their own health." With the support of local schools, the contest will extend to additional children next year.

About The Plainfield Health Center

The Plainfield Health Center, incorporated as the Plainfield Neighborhood Health Services Corporation, was born in 1969 under the auspices of the 1960's Model Cities Neighborhood Program. Led by a dedicated group of community activists, the Center was initially created to provide accessible health care to the residents of the West End of Plainfield.

Since then, the Center has grown, added more services, increased the number of specialties of professional health staff, and expanded its reach to the entire City of Plainfield and neighboring communities. Today, the Plainfield Health Center serves more than 17,000 patients annually. Its total care program provides adult medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, adolescent medicine, school based services, dentistry and ancillary support services.

copyright © PHC 2002