Clinton Foundation's 'Health Matters' Conference Brings Out Big Names

Former President Bill Clinton and his daughter Chelsea, singer Barbra Streisand, health expert Deepak Chopra, television personality Jillian Michaels and other luminaries will participate in the Clinton Foundation's "Health Matters" conference in La Quinta next week, the foundation announced today.

The second annual conference, themed "Activating Wellness in Every Generation," is scheduled for Jan. 15 at La Quinta Resort & Club. The conference will anchor the foundation's new Health Matters Initiative and coincide with the Humana Challenge golf tournament, which the foundation is also sponsoring.

The conference will gather more than 400 people in health care, public policy, business, education, wellness and sports "to identify strategies to promote and improve individual healthy lifestyles in the home, the community, and the workplace," according to the foundation.

Other participants include chef Tom Colicchio, PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem, Coachella Mayor Eduardo Garcia, restaurateur and television host Lorena Garcia, Desert Healthcare District President Glen Grayman, New York City Police Department Commissioner Ray Kelly, Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., golf legend Gary Player, Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet, former Surgeon General David Satcher, Olympic gold medal cyclist Kristin Armstrong Savola and Betty Ford Center President and CEO John Schwarzlose.

Michaels will lead a workout at 7 a.m., and Clinton will give opening and closing remarks.

The foundation began the Clinton Health Matters Initiative in November, building on its first "Health Matters" conference held last January in Indian Wells. Through the initiative, foundation members will work with Coachella Valley groups to "close gaps in health disparities, and to improve well-being locally," according to the foundation. The initiative will work for global health and against childhood obesity.

For a complete conference schedule, go to www.clintonfoundation.org.