The MolinaCares Accord and El Centro Regional Medical Center to Engage Brawley and Holtville Youth in Hands-On Nutrition Classes
EL CENTRO, Calif., July 20, 2021 – The MolinaCares Accord (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of California (“Molina”), partnered with El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC) to host two Dr. Cleo’s Cooking Club events for youth ages 5-13 in Holtville and Brawley. At each event, MolinaCares and ECRMC engaged several dozen members of the local Boys & Girls Clubs in a class focused on health and nutrition. Dr. Cleo is Molina’s cat doctor mascot.
“We are proud to team up with our longtime partners, El Centro Regional Medical Center and the local Boys & Girls Clubs, to teach Imperial County youth about the significance of exercise and balanced diets,” said Abbie Totten, plan president of Molina Healthcare of California. “MolinaCares is dedicated to supporting their growth and development into healthy adults.”
At each event, an educator from ECRMC taught about the importance of handwashing and nutrition before leading a hands-on demonstration on making nutritious snacks. The Boys & Girls Club members learned how to create “ants on a log” using celery, cream cheese, and raisins and “snowflake balls” using almond better, cereal flakes, and graham crackers. Every child had a Molina chef hat and a workstation with hand sanitizer, snack ingredients, and a Dr. Cleo recipe brochure. All chefs received a Molina bag with health education materials and a frisbee and jump rope to encourage physical fitness.
“We are excited to work together with MolinaCares, Molina Healthcare, and the local Boys & Girls Clubs, having our dieticians teach children through nutrition games fun ways to learn how to eat different foods and learn that good nutrition and a balanced diet will help them grow up healthy,” said Dr. Adolphe Edward, chief executive officer of El Centro Regional Medical Center.
About The MolinaCares Accord
Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities.
About Molina Healthcare of California
Molina Healthcare of California has been providing government-funded care for 40 years. The Company serves members through Medi-Cal, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Covered California (Marketplace). Molina’s service areas include Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Orange County and Imperial counties. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, served approximately 4.6 million members as of March 31, 2021. For more information about Molina Healthcare of California, visit MolinaHealthcare.com.