NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: 4/04/2012
Contact: Jo Ann Pearce or  Emily Lammie

A Chance to Change Foundation receives $40,000
Access to Health Care Ifund Grant

Oklahoma City, Ok. The A Chance to Change Foundation is pleased to announce it has received a $40,000 grant from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and its Access to Health Care iFund grant program. The grant will be used to assist in funding the A Chance to SUCCEED program, which will allow A Chance to Change Foundation to increase its level of service to the population it serves.

“Adolescents have easy access to alcohol and drugs which are very dangerous to them. This is causing deaths, accidents, and early addiction. Almost all addicts start using as teenagers. We appreciate the opportunity to provide our program to more teens, due to this Access to Health Care Grant, “says Jo Ann Pearce, Executive Director of A Chance to Change.

A Chance to SUCCEED is a pro-active program providing teachers, parents and students with free education, prevention and intervention through partnerships with metropolitan area schools. A majority of these schools are located in low income areas. Participating schools are in the Western Heights, Putnam City, Edmond, and Oklahoma City School Districts. A Chance to SUCCEED makes it possible for at risk students to get free help without leaving the school grounds. This program is designed to reduce the deaths and other tragedies associated with substance abuse by youth in Oklahoma.

A Chance to Change Foundation has provided substance abuse prevention and early intervention programs, as well as addiction education and counseling for people of all ages for nearly 33 years. It also provides counseling for trauma, depression, and other behavioral health issues.

Founded in 1969, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation works with donors and organizations to create endowments that address needs and opportunities within the community. The Access to Health Care iFund grant program represents a completion of contributions from donors who want to support grants to support basic health care including dental and mental health care to those in need. For more information on the iFund grant program, please visit www.ifundokc.org. For more information on the Oklahoma City community foundation, please visit www.occf.org.