Meet the 10 People Making a Difference – Investment at Work
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Dr. Joseph Donnelly, Director of CHOC/UCI Neurodevelopmental Programs
Dr. Donnelly oversees Neurodevelopmental programs that provide a continuum of services for families whose children have developmental delays and/or behavioral concerns.
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Gustavo Ortega, Early Literacy Reading Supervisor with Reach Out and Read Program
In his role, Ortega trains and manages readers, teaching them best techniques for reading aloud to children and for involving parents. He also makes certain that pediatric waiting rooms participating in the Reach Out and Read program have books and other resources and serves as the point person between Reach Out and Read and Commission’s Early Literacy Program.
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Dr. Patricia Riba, Pediatrician, Nutritionist and Founder/Medical Director, Orange County’s Children’ Wellness Program
Dr. Riba and her team teach communities and families about what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle, proper medical and oral health, physical activity and more. Dr. Riba’s team looks at underlying socioeconomic factors, access to medical care, psychological issues, developmental factors and more to help families thwart off childhood obesity and diabetes.
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Richard Mungo, Pediatric Dentist and Founder/Medical Director of Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County
Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County is reaching thousands of children who otherwise would not have access to quality oral health care. The organization takes a three-pronged approach when working with children and their families: treatment, prevention and education.
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Pat Halberstadt, Chief Professional Officer, Boys & Girls Club Garden Grove
Pat leads an organization with a staff of almost 500, running programs that serve more than 5,000 children and families every day and more than 8,500 families every year in eight cities. Pat often takes the time to really get to know her club families and the issues they face in order to provide them with the proper resources and support.
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Pamela Pimentel, RN, CEO of MOMS Orange County
Pam and her team of maternal health professionals work with expecting mothers throughout their pregnancy to teach them proper nutrition and care to ensure that more babies are born healthy. What drives Pam is the belief that a baby born sick can unearth a lifetime of struggle, but when a baby is born healthy – all good things in life are possible.
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Scott Larson, Executive Director Home Aid
On any given night in Orange County, children and parents are without shelter. Thisfuels Scott Larson’s work. Larson believes it is vital children have a stable, safe and secure home to begin their lives and has brought together more than 25 non-profit organizations serving the homeless, approximately 2,500 members of the Building Industry Association (BIA), and hundreds of community leaders, government officials and local volunteers to build projects to house homeless Orange County families.
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Eduardo Correa, Pediatric Dentist at Healthy Smiles for Kids of Orange County
Even at a young age, Dr. Correa knew his calling was dentistry and helping to educate the importance of oral health care to children and parents who otherwise would not have access to quality dental care. Correa explains that when oral health care is overlooked it can lead to serious problems and cause behavioral and social problems among children.
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Natalie Walper, RN, Newport Mesa Unified School District
Natalie Walper has been the school nurse at the Newport Mesa Unified School District since 2004. Walper is an essential member of the district and works to address the health care needs of the district’s number of children. Walper works tirelessly to educate children, their families and the larger community about routine health care and illness prevention.
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Full-story interviews and video with all 10 Agents of Change