Hands of Health - 2006
Yo Sobha, associate branch director at A.E. Finley YMCA, and Dr. Mark Piehl, WakeMed Faculty Physicians pediatrician, receive John Rex Endowment Hands of Health Awards
Over 100 community health leaders gathered at the John Rex Endowment Hands of Health Breakfast in downtown Raleigh Tuesday, October 24, 2006. The morning was dedicated to honoring local children's health heroes, Dr. Mark Piehl, WakeMed Faculty Physicians pediatrician, and Yo Sobha, associate branch director at A.E. Finley YMCA.
Prior to the award announcements, Jason Langheier, founder and chair of Fitness Forward delivered an important message about strategic partnering, using a Community Playbook, to facilitate healthy lifestyles among youth.
Dr. David Boerner, board chair of the John Rex Endowment, presented the 2006 Hands of Health Award to Dr. Piehl and Sobha. The annual John Rex Endowment Hands of Health Award honors individuals whose innovative work helps improve the health of underserved children in Wake County.
Dr. Piehl was recognized for his work with pediatric diabetes and for his initiative to start the ENERGIZE program which offers nutrition education and exercise classes for at-risk children. The initial results of the program, which targeted children ages 10 to 18, were outstanding, and pediatricians around the county began referring their patients to this program Because of Dr. Piehl's enthusiasm and passion for eliminating type 2 diabetes Wake County has an invaluable resource in their daily battle against this disease. With this program more than 1,000 Wake County children have benefited from weight loss, improved nutrition and better physical fitness opportunities.
Sobha turned the vision of a camp for autistic children into a reality. He envisioned better opportunities and a unique experience to help bring children with autism out of their shell. Sobha coordinated an Advisory Committee with area experts to design a curriculum that would achieve the fun and excitement of a YMCA camp, as well as provide therapies that would address the needs of each individual child. Camp Grace now serves approximately 125 children during the summer, and many parents who were at first skeptical are graciously amazed as their children come out of a shell at camp.
The John Rex Endowment presented both Dr. Piehl and Sobha with a specially commissioned bronze sculpture and will contribute $10,000 to the charity of choice on behalf of each recipient - totaling $20,000.
For more information, contact Kevin Cain or McAllister Myhra at 919.571.3392 or kevin@rexendowment.org or mcallister@rexendowment.org