First 5 San Diego, Vons partner with County of San Diego’s Live Well San Diego campaign

SAN DIEGO — First 5 San Diego and Safeway's Vons banner stores on Tuesday announced that they are going deeper into the community by partnering with the County of San Diego’s Live Well San Diego campaign.

“Through this partnership, First 5 San Diego and Vons will spread the message of Live Well San Diego and encourage healthier lifestyles throughout San Diego,” said County Supervisor Greg Cox, chair of the First 5 Commission of San Diego.

“Live Well San Diego is about connecting organizations of every kind for a shared purpose,” said Nick Macchione, director of County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency and First 5 Commissioner. “Partnerships like these are the key to making positive changes so that our children, their children and beyond can live healthier and safer, and thrive.”

In 2013, First 5 San Diego and Vons collaborated to reach thousands of San Diego County residents with healthy eating messages and promotions in stores and online. Together, First 5 San Diego and Vons have distributed more than 100,000 healthy eating information fliers throughout the community to educate and inspire county residents to take action and responsibility for their health.

Vons has financially supported First 5 San Diego healthy eating contests and promoted the healthy eating message in all San Diego Vons and Pavilions stores by displaying First 5 San Diego healthy eating materials.

“The Healthy Eating campaign materials and events have been well-received by our customers across the county,” said Carlos Illingworth, director public affairs and government relations for Vons. “The Live Well San Diego campaign is an excellent fit, and we are proud to support both organizations.”

The Live Well San Diego initiative began in 2010 solely as a health strategy, recognizing that San Diego County, like much of the nation, was facing a tidal wave of chronic disease and rising healthcare costs. The strategy has since evolved into the long-term initiative to improve the health, safety and quality of life of all county residents.

“Our efforts embody Live Well San Diego’s Building Better Health vision and goals,” said Kim Medeiros, First 5 San Diego executive director. “We are excited to join forces to support San Diego County’s long-term initiative to achieve healthy communities and to encourage all residents to make healthy choices at the supermarket, restaurants and home.”

First 5 San Diego helps parents and others to help children during a child's first five years. The commission leads the greater San Diego community in promoting the vital importance of the first five years of life to the health and well-being of children, families and society. The ultimate goal of the commission's work is that all children ages zero through 5 years are healthy, loved and nurtured, and enter school as active learners.