FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 5, 2001

Contact: Brandy Ramos Nikaido
Office (559) 241-7512
Cell (559) 313-6539
brandy.nikaido@ucop.edu

UC CENTER, FRESNO SUPPORTS AIR QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS BY JOINING SPARE THE AIR PROGRAM

FRESNO - The UC Center, Fresno joined the Valley Air District's Spare the Air program this month, continuing the University of California's commitment to public service in the San Joaquin Valley. By participating in the voluntary air pollution reduction program, staff members at the UC Center, Fresno will help make significant and immediate contributions to improving local air quality.

The San Joaquin Valley suffers from serious air pollution due to its topography, climate and growing population.

The Spare the Air program works by notifying Valley residents in advance of days when air pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels (Spare the Air days). Residents, in turn, are asked to help control air pollution by reducing or avoiding air pollution causing activities and products for the next 24 hours.

The UC Center, Fresno is one of hundreds of organizations from Stockton to Bakersfield that are participating in the Spare the Air program by educating employees and encouraging them to take part in air-friendly behavior. Sharing rides, using public transportation and linking errands into one motor vehicle trip are some examples of air-friendly activities.

Spare the Air season starts Wednesday, June 6, in the Valley and runs through the end of September.

The UC Center, Fresno will hold an on-site lunch for staff members on June 6 where air pollution prevention information will be distributed and prizes awarded to those who pledge to Spare the Air. The UC Center, Fresno staff totals about 100 people.

The University of California established the UC Center, Fresno in 1997 to better serve the educational needs of San Joaquin Valley residents and to prepare for the opening of UC Merced in 2004. The UC Center, Fresno gathers many of the region's UC programs into one centralized facility along with other community-based organizations.

Services such as undergraduate admissions information, summer courses for UC students, professional development and teacher training, workshops for educational counselors, and public
policy forums are offered at the UC Center, Fresno. In addition, office space and meeting
facilities are available for rent.

At the UC Center, Fresno, the University of California has formed an exceptional gathering of educational, health care and community-based organizations that provides new opportunities for collaborative work of benefit to Valley residents.

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