Pueblo StepUp Toasts Its First Fundraiser

Almost 200 people gathered on February 29th at the Pueblo Country Club to raise their glasses and funds for Pueblo StepUp at the first Wine and Small Plates fundraising event. A sampling of red and white wines selected and donated by Baroness Wines accompanied a lively spread of dinner-sized appetizers. The event raised more than $10,000 in much-needed general operating funds.

Tremendous thanks go to the event sponsors, that included St. Mary-Corwin/Centura Health, Sanofi-Aventis, SC Ministry Foundation, Dr. Sharon Kessler, H.W. Houston Construction, Pueblo Community Health Center, Southern Colorado Emergency Medical Associates, K.R. Swerdfeger Construction Company, Parkview Medical Center, Michele DesLauriers, Security Services Investment Group, Takaki Dental Group, Charlie & Theresa Hart, Drs. Pam & Gary Parks, Xcel Energy, the Pueblo City/County Health Department, Mary Gunn and the David & Lucile Packard Foundation. In-kind donations were received from Tuxedo Ranch and the Thatcher Learning Center.

StepUp board members along with other community volunteers lent their time, enthusiasm and expertise in helping us pull off the fun event. The committee included Board members Michele DesLauriers, Sue Takaki, Michele Puelen and Sr. Janice Ernst. They were joined by Rochelle Kelly DeVargas, Brenda Shriver and Jill Swerdfeger. Salud!

Bits & Pieces

Board Update
We want to welcome our new board members Sue Takaki, Cathy Dehn, Sr. Janice Ernst and Debbie Archuleta. Congratulations also to the new board officers for 2008. New officers are Bill Sprouse, Chair; Michele DesLauriers, Vice-Chair; Scott Robb, Treasurer; and Donald Moore, Secretary. Our board members are a key part of the success of Pueblo StepUp. Thanks to all of you!

Volunteer Luncheon
Each year, we honor all of our volunteers for the hard work and dedication they bring to Pueblo StepUp programs. This year’s luncheon will be:

Thursday, April 24, 2008
Rosario’s Restaurant
2930 N. Elizabeth
Noon to 2 p.m.

Volunteers should receive their invitation soon, but you can call now to reserve your spot. Call 557-4586 and leave us a message with your name and the number attending. See you there!

Grants
Recent grants received by Pueblo StepUp include: Daniels Fund, $20,000 and Pueblo City/County Partnership, $12,800 in support of our senior health and wellness programs; David & Lucile Packard Foundation, $10,000 in general operating funds; Pueblo Day Nursery Children’s Foundation, $800 for children’s dental care education materials and dental supplies. We have applied for a grant with the Colorado Department of Health & Environment which would allow us to grow our Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. We hope to hear about this grant by mid-April.

CHP+ News
Last October, Pueblo StepUp began a pilot program in conjunction with Pueblo City Schools to increase the number of children enrolled in CHP+ and Children’s Medicaid. Since the pilot program began, Pueblo StepUp staff members Brenda & Francesca LaCombe have been going regularly to four Pueblo City Schools making the enrollment process more accessible to the parents of those children. Even though the program is fairly new, we’ve received a great deal of positive response so far, and indications are that the state will extend the pilot project beyond its original one year.

Susan Williams, Nurse Practitioner, recently wrote to us. “In my current position I witness almost daily children in need of health care that has been put off so long they now need specialists for surgery, acute illness treatment or physical therapy in order to return to a stable health condition to function in school and the
community as productive individuals. These children do not have any insurance and Brenda and the staff at StepUp have responded immediately to assist families to not only evaluate the child for Medicaid or CHP+, but to also assist them in finding a physician and making appointments. As sick as so many of these children are because they
have no access to healthcare, StepUp is truly making a difference in the lives of children, their families and our community.”