The collaboration begins with a girls youth flag football clinic on Saturday, January 31st from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Palo Alto High School, 50 Embarcadero Road.
Northern California – Sutter Health today announced a new partnership with Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young. Forever Young Foundation We aim to expand youth health and wellness through community-based programs that support physical activity, confidence, and connection for youth across Northern California.
The collaboration will officially launch on Saturday, January 31st at a women’s youth flag football clinic hosted by Steve Young in Palo Alto from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The clinic welcomes local girls ages 7 to 14 for an afternoon of skill building, exercise, mentorship, and connection. This event reflects Sutter Health and the Forever Young Foundation’s shared commitment to promoting healthy development and empowering youth athletes through positive community-based experiences that go beyond traditional medical settings. Note: This clinic is by invitation only and is not open to the public.
“Sutter Health is excited to build on our long-standing relationship with Steve Young and the Forever Young Foundation to further support the health and wellness of youth across Northern California,” said Warner Thomas, president and CEO of Sutter Health. “Our collaboration, which includes Sophie’s Place, a music therapy program at a children’s hospital, shows what is possible when health care and community work together. Together, this next chapter will expand that impact and help young people become active, build confidence, and develop healthy habits that support their health now and in the future.”
Steve Young said: “For young people, physical education and staying active is critical, not only for their health today, but also for maintaining their habits and confidence into adulthood.” “My wife Barb and I’s relationship with Sutter Health has been proven for nearly a decade and continues to grow in meaningful ways. Together, we are committed to increasing opportunities for children to move, play and belong. Growing the game of flag football is a powerful way to do that, making the sport more accessible, inclusive and fun for generations to come.”
This partnership is based on the belief that prevention begins in childhood, when physical, cognitive and emotional development lay the foundation for lifelong health. Through movement, play and creative expression, children build confidence, emotional resilience, and social and leadership skills that support long-term health and wellbeing.
“This partnership reflects a meaningful step in our continued commitment to the health of the communities we serve,” said Dr. Dena Taggart, chair of Sutter’s Child Health Service Line. “When we create safe and fun opportunities for children to move, play and be challenged, we are not only promoting physical activity, we are helping to build a foundation for lifelong health and wellness. Collaborations like this help young people build confidence, resilience and It helps build a strong sense of belonging, all of which are essential to overall well-being. We are proud to work with the Forever Young Foundation to expand opportunities like this for children and families across the communities we serve.”
“We believe that youth health starts early and that prevention begins long before someone enters the clinic,” said Dr. Rebecca Fazilat, a Sutter pediatrician and president of Palo Alto Foundation Medical Group (PAFMG). “By partnering with Steve Young and the Forever Young Foundation, we are investing in programs that help kids build self-confidence, emotional resilience and healthy habits that last a lifetime.”
Sutter Health and the Forever Young Foundation are working to build healthier opportunities for youth through expanding programs like Girls Flag Football and other comprehensive youth health initiatives, with a particular focus on communities facing barriers to health and wellness opportunities.
In 2016, Sutter Health and Steve Young We created a space for music therapy in the pediatric ward at Sutter Medical Center in Sacramento. Sophie’s Placethe Music Therapy Room celebrates Sophie Barton, a young singer-songwriter who made it her mission to help people through the power of music. The space provides an outlet for young people dealing with pain, chronic illness, and serious injuries, and also features common areas for groups, a high-tech recording room, private session rooms, and large storage spaces for generously donated musical instruments. This new partnership builds on initiatives such as Sophie’s Place and the Forever Young Zone, a children’s recreational play area within the hospital that provides a respite from daily treatment.