Grant REACHes youth group

Sutter/Yuba Friday Night Live has received a $75,000 grant for the creation of a coalition that will work toward helping local youth achieve success.

With the grant from the Sierra Health Foundation's REACH youth program, the Yuba-Sutter Community Action Coalition will have 12 youth development sites in the area, said Carmen Smith, local Friday Night Live program coordinator.

It will complete an assessment of how the community is doing in providing support and opportunities for youth — then create an action plan to help in their healthy development.

The coalition will look to see "what we can do to make the Yuba-Sutter area a healthier place for our youth," Smith said.

The Yuba-Sutter Community Action Coalition's public meetings are at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Packard Library, 301 Fourth St., Marysville. Sutter/Yuba FNL is its lead organization.

If successful in the planning phase, the local coalition will be eligible to apply for $200,000 per year for three years to complete its action plan.

Sierra Health Foundation first awarded Community Action Grants to seven coalitions representing Sacramento area communities — El Dorado Hills, Galt, Meadowview, Rancho Cordova, South Sacramento, West Sacramento and Woodland. The city of Vacaville received its first grant this year.

The foundation is a private philanthropy involved in programs that improve health and quality of life in Northern California.

Contact Appeal-Democrat Community Editor Leticia Gutierrez at 749-4722 or at lgutierrez@appealdemocrat.com