Community Hospital of Long Beach to Host Kathy Ireland Mentor Program, Saturday,...

Community Hospital of Long Beach to Host Kathy Ireland Mentor Program,
Saturday, Sept. 13
Nation's Leading Mentor Program for Single Teen Mothers

LONG BEACH, Calif., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Supermodel Kathy Ireland,
9-1-1 for Kids and Community Hospital of Long Beach will host the 16th annual
award-winning 'IGNITE' mentoring program for disadvantaged single teen mothers
on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at Community Hospital of Long Beach. The
program addresses the complexities of teen pregnancy and has since been
recognized as one of the nation's leading mentor programs for single teen
mothers. The Kathy Ireland Mentor Program (KIMP) received the Governor's
Crystal Star Award in 1996 and is devoted to encouraging and supporting each
teen mother while helping to build self esteem, and create a positive
self-image and look towards a brighter future. KIMP matches professional
businesswomen as mentors and role models to teen mothers.
Many of the teens who participate in KIMP successfully transition into
responsible adults, gain new hope and aspirations, and learn responsible
parenting. Many receive high school diplomas, have gone on to trade school
and/or 2- and 4-year colleges, and some have completed professional and
postgraduate degrees.
Kathy Ireland, CEO, Kathy Ireland Worldwide and International Ambassador
of 9-1-1 for Kids, and Elise Kim, executive director, 9-1-1 for Kids created
KIMP for single teen mothers in 1990 in collaboration with the nonprofit
public safety education organization 9-1-1 for Kids.
Facts on Teen Pregnancy in the United States: The U.S. has the highest
teen pregnancy rate; Close to 1 million teens become pregnant each year among
developed countries; Almost half of all teen mothers end up on welfare; 95
percent of teen pregnancies are unintended; 1-in-4 teen mothers will have
their second child within 2 years of the first one; Less than 40 percent of
teen mothers finish high school; About 1/3 of teen pregnancies will end in
abortion, 1/3 will end in spontaneous miscarriage and 1/3 will continue their
pregnancy to term.
9-1-1 for Kids(R) is the official caller training education program for
the United States, Canada and the Cayman Islands, all countries which use
9-1-1 as its universal emergency number. The program teaches students how to
save lives and property, and respond to disaster situations through the proper
use of 9-1-1. The 9-1-1 for Kids program is implemented by local, federal and
international public safety: dispatch centers, agencies and organizations
throughout schools, youth organizations & activities and community events.
The organization is endorsed and supported by APCO International (Assn. of
Public Safety Communications Officials), NENA (National Emergency Numbers
Assn.) and NASNA (National Assn. of Nine-one-one Administrators).
SOURCE Community Hospital of Long Beach

Kathy Berry, +1-562-494-0835, Kberry@chlb.org, or Gretchen Dixon,
+1-562-494-0763, Gdixon@chlb.org, both of Community Hospital of Long Beach