10 Aug. 21 - Sept. 3, 2010 by Dr. Susan Horan
The Chandler CARE Center was honored to be one of the three programs presented in the City of Chandler application for the All-America City Award. Simply being selected to participate in the process meant the City identifi es the center as an effective community program.
Having our community proclaimed as one of the 2010 All-America Cities, though, confi rms the Chandler CARE Center is a replicable service model for cities across the country. This prestigious award thus recognizes the tremendous contributions of our entire cadre of volunteer medical, dental, counseling and social service providers.
The All-America City Award recognition
has already prompted other professionals and community members to volunteer at the Chandler CARE Center. This is wonderful news for the growing numbers of needy, uninsured Chandler children who are in need of medical and social service assistance.
It helps ensure these youth can receive the medical treatment and social services they need to be healthy enough to attend school and achieve academically.
Additional community volunteers also mean the center will have the help needed for support programs and events.
The award also validates the high quality of life in Chandler. When I moved to the East Valley 26 years ago, I visited many cities in search of the most desirable place to purchase a home. I was immediately drawn to the big-city amenities coupled with the small-town atmosphere of Chandler. Everything about Chandler, from the friendly, effi cient city government and award-winning schools to the mix of high-tech industry and family businesses, seemed to say this should be my hometown. The All-America City Award is a proclamation to families and businesses across the nation that Chandler is indeed one of best communities in the country in which to live.
Dr. Susan Horan is director of the Chandler CARE Center, a program of the Chandler Unified School District.
Sandy Muñoz-Weingarten is a naturalist at the Environmental Education Center at Veterans Oasis Park.
City of Chandler Insider
www.SanTanSun.com
All-America exposure brings new volunteers Pride grows as residents discover facilities by Sandy Muñoz-Weingarten
My involvement with Chandler becoming an All-America City began months ago when I was told that the Chandler Heights Community Facilities (CHCF) project, including our Environmental Education Center (EEC), had been selected as one of three representative programs included in the award nomination packet to the National Civic League.
Submitted photos
MODEL: Dr. Susan Horan, director of The Chandler CARE Center, says the facility serves as a model for other cities in providing volunteer medical, dental, counseling and social service providers.
Although I knew very little about the award at the time, or the prestige and honor it brought to cities chosen to receive it, I was humbled and honored that out of all the impressive and noteworthy projects and programs in the City of Chandler, this one was selected. Although I am admittedly biased, I felt the choice was a good one, as this one-of-a-kind site is one the city and its residents have every right to be proud of.
As a fairly new park, the CHCF is still relatively unknown to many Chandler residents. The 113-acre setting, complete with police substation and an onsite nature center, provides unique opportunities for residents to enjoy fi shing, hiking, bird watching and nature-oriented classes and special events without ever leaving the city. With recent studies reiterating the importance of connecting children with nature – and the link between the lack of these opportunities skyrocketing rates of childhood obesity, depression and attention disorders becoming clearer – natural, open space sites like this one become even more critical to our community.
Although it took a lot of hard work on the part of many people, the achievement of the All-America City award is allowing more people to learn about these important community projects and take advantage of all these programs have to offer. And as more people come to know this place, I know that their pride in living in an All-America City will grow as well.
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