June 6, 2008

The new Olympians

Assistance League’s picnic celebrates fitness

By Jeanne C. Carbone
Editor

All good things must come to an end. And for Rosemary Elementary School fourth graders, that day has come with an Assistance League picnic to celebrate their fitness achievements.

Getting fit and having fun at the Assistance League’s end of the year TEN picnic are gunny sack racers Jonathan Rodriguez, Edgar Palato, Haimanot Shimelis, Karla Markotic, Rebeca Diaz and Maria Sanchez.

Every Wednesday throughout the school year, the students participated in the Assistance League [AL] of Los Gatos-Saratoga’s Target Exercise and Nutrition [TEN] program. AL members set up a quarter-mile course at the school and the kids earned rewards after every mile they walked or ran. Nutritious snacks followed the program.

“TEN is my favorite program with AL,” said Campbell resident and AL member Paris Rogers. “During an extended recess at Rosemary Elementary School, we interact with all the fourth graders, encouraging them to run or walk laps. At every mile point, students receive prizes for their efforts.”

To kick-off the summer AL rewarded 90 students with a picnic, obstacle courses, gunny sack races, water balloon toss and lots of other kid friendly events along with a healthy lunch at John D. Morgan Park. The Olympic themed event even had the kids receiving gold medals for their fitness feats as well as a laminated photograph of themselves in action.

Olympians Jonathan Rodriguez and Edgar Palato competing in a gunny sack race at the AL end of the year picnic at John D. Morgan Park. Photo by Jeanne C. Carbone

“This is such a nice way to end the year,” said AL branch Founder Chrystie DeSoto. “We’ve had the TEN program for three years and we’ve had the best time this year. Husbands and significant others helped and the kids really like that. It helped challenge them to do their best.”

AL picnic co-chair Judy Wagner agrees, stating that the students’ fitness levels increased 15 percent by the end of the year. AL TEN chair Nancy Miner insists that the kids have fun by giving them a prize for each mile and other incentives to fight childhood obesity with exercise and healthy eating.

The Assistance League in Los Gatos-Saratoga is the 110th chapter of the National Assistance League and was formed in September 2000 by De Soto. They have over 100 members who provide more than 13,000 volunteer hours of community service last year. They are a friendly group dedicated to meeting, identifying and addressing local community needs.

While 80 percent of the AL fundraising is donated to Campbell Schools, AL members are involved in other philanthropic projects. Their Warm Hands-Giving Hearts program supplies infant formula, disposable diapers, books, clothing and educational toys to families who are identified by the Santa Clara County Public Health nurses. There’s an incentive program for the mothers who are rewarded with items for smoking cessation, keeping doctor’s appointments, etc.

Assistance League TEN Chair Nancy Miner, Founder Chrystie DeSoto and Picnic Co-Chair Judy Wagner [Jan Ehrhardt not pictured] enjoy the end of the school year picnic. Photos by Jeanne C. Carbone

AL Senior Pals teams plan, shop for and prepare nutritious lunches four days a week at the Saratoga Adult Day Care Center. They also organize a craft program and provide entertainment at the center. In conjunction with the Live Oak Nutrition Center, AL volunteers plan and provide craft projects and entertainment on a monthly basis.
Though the TEN program addresses the critical issue of childhood obesity, it is a favorite with AL members, their significant others who help and the students as well.

“It’s fun and exciting,” said Sharlene Orteza. “Now I like exercising.”

“They make it fun to exercise and eat healthy,” said Haimanot Shimelis. “They are very nice and helpful. Now I like to run.”

“TEN is very good exercise,” said Shahad Aziz. “It gets your heart pumping and the food is good.”

For more information on the Assistance League, visit www.allgs.org. For information regarding membership, contact Denice Remola at (408) 278-5300.