You may have been keeping up with our stories about the state-of-the-art fitness gym at the Saban Center for Health and Wellness, MPTF members Joe and Rhoda Bellfort have a slightly different Saban story to tell.

Rhoda and Joe at the Jodie Foster Aquatic Pavilion

Joe, 98, and Rhoda, 95, are the oldest residents using the Jodie Foster Aquatic Pavilion, which was built three years ago. Debra Greenwood, manager of Aquatic and Fitness, notes how “the pool at the Jodie Foster Aquatic Pavilion has provided members, residents, and physical therapy clients the opportunity to enjoy all the benefits of an aquatic environment through a variety of classes and programs. During the three years we’ve been open, I’ve heard participants share that they’ve increased their energy, improved balance, lost weight, reduced pain, and just plain ‘feel better’ after exercising in the water. It gives me great pleasure to know that this program, both aquatic and fitness, will assist in improving quality of life.”

Joe spent his career working with the biggest and best companies in the entertainment industry. From working as a pageboy at the Palace Theater building, to becoming the youngest lawyer at RKO, to joining the foreign department of 20th Century Fox, it almost seems like Joe has done it all. When Joe and Rhoda decided to move on-campus five years ago, they asked if there was a pool. They were very happy once they were told of plans to build one, as they’d had a pool at their previous residence. Joe and Rhoda started taking advantage of the pool the moment it opened August 6th, 2007. As they presently live in the Stark Villa, it’s been quite easy for them to access the pool since it’s so close.

“We love swimming,” says Joe. “It’s our major form of exercise. We swim laps for half an hour each day. The pool is kept beautifully and it’s a good temperature for people our age which encourages us to go.”

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You may have read our about the Saban Center for Health and Wellness and how members, like Jody Zisman, deal with chronic back pain, or, like Mary Ann Cormier, feel stronger than ever. They made the decision to take charge of their health with the help of trainers at Saban; now, there are happy endings all around.

Reggie doing his regular workout routine on the kinesis machine.

But what if you’re not a big fan of going to the gym?

Take retired gaffer Reggie Lake, for example. He says he was “lazy” before shoulder surgery forced him to find a way to continue rehab after his therapy time ran out. His therapist recommended the Saban Center, so Reggie checked it out and fell in love—with a kinesis machine.

The Kinesis One is a free-standing resistance machine designed by Technogym that allows for three-dimensional body movements that work different body parts while focusing on core strength. Reggie includes a half-hour session on the kinesis machine in his overall workout routine that he performs four days a week.

“I make appointments so I have to keep them,” he says, laughing. “That way I can’t stand them up.”

With the help of Saban trainers Peter McTomney and Caesar Marquez, Reggie’s shoulder is in great shape and he’s lost 14 pounds. He’s also thrilled with his cholesterol and blood pressure. In 2002 Reggie had a heart attack, but since he’s been working out, his cholesterol level is down and BP has dropped from 140 over 90 to 120 over 75. “It’s 109 over 59 after I work out,” brags the 63-year-old West Indies native.

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Squeals, screeches, screams and jumps of joy, laughter, oohs, and ahs, all filled my eyes and ears as I entered the Samuel Goldwyn Foundation Children’s Center in West Los Angeles for their Week of the Child Science Fair.

It sounded like the children were watching a screening of “Up” or “Alice In Wonderland” but what they were doing was testing and experimenting with various science projects, and not one child over the age of six.

Baking soda mixed with vinegar (and a little food coloring) seemed to be the experiment that brought the most squeals as the mixture brought brightly colored foam bubbling up out of “volcanoes” when mixed at the proper levels.

How many drops of water will a dry penny hold and how many pennies does it take to make the water overflow from an almost full glass were guessing games that had the children participating in, excited about, and joyous if and when they were correct.

Although a few parents were present, all the activities were absolutely focused on the children. No long speeches or explanations, just lots of hands-on fun for even the littlest scientists. Mom and art director Felicity Nove was there to see her daughter Minnie and cheer on the gooey projects. She told us about the great variety of activities the Center provides and how much she appreciates the personal way teachers and administrators deal with the kids and the parents. “Every day is incredible here,” said Ms. Nove. “Everyone is just amazing.”

The SGFCC is a home away from home for 105 children of entertainment industry professionals. Twenty-seven teachers and three administrators make sure everyone is happy and learning every school day. From the moment you enter the colorful campus you know that the Motion Picture & Television Fund and Bright Horizons have created something extra special.

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You say the word “gym” to people and they either think of their old high school basketball court or the neighborhood facility filled with machines, loud music, and too many people.

Then there’s the Saban Center for Health and Wellness on campus at the Motion Picture & Television Fund in Woodland Hills.

It’s just the right size with lots of windows letting in natural light and a great view. There is state of the art equipment and a warm water pool, which provide accessible exercise for just about any level of ability. And the knowledgeable, friendly staff will take the time to help you craft the perfect regimen for your health goals. Sound too good to be true? We asked a few members to share their stories with us.

Jody Zisman at MPTF’s Saban Center for Health and Wellness

Jody Zisman and her husband received a flyer from the DGA telling them about the Saban Center. They both felt a need to get a little more exercise, so they joined up. Originally, Jody was hoping to lose a little weight and increase her energy. She started out on the machines, but then she saw personal trainer Peter McTomney working with another member – with boxing gloves. Jody immediately asked if she could try it, too. Peter handed her a pair of bright red gloves and now Jody can’t wait for her morning workout and the opportunity to “hit Peter as hard as I can.” Jody laughs when she talks about it – in fact the whole conversation was filled with smiles as she described her great experience at Saban. Debra Greenwood, Manager of Aquatic and Fitness, enjoys watching Jody and Peter workout. “I feel fortunate to have great staff. They are motivated to provide programs designed to keep the members and residents interested in coming back, translating to a positive impact on their health.” A very positive impact, according to Jody. Her chronic back pain
has eased and she noted that she hasn’t been to the chiropractor in weeks. “It’s kept a lot of pain away and keeps me feeling as good
as possible.”

Mary Ann Cormier at MPTF’s Saban Center for Health and Wellness

Mary Ann Cormier can’t get over the positive attitude of the supportive staff and the friendliness of other members. She described the great equipment and how it was especially easy on her back, but time and again she came back to the people. “Everybody is willing to answer any questions that you have,” she said. “They’re outgoing and warm, and also very professional.” She added that she’s made new friends at the Center whom she sees away from the gym as well. Mary Ann and her husband, Gerald, often use the side-by-side treadmills that look out over the pool. Their standard joke is “Have you reached Pasadena yet?” Even at 69 years old she just might actually be able to walk to Pasadena now if she needed to. Since coming to Saban, Mary Ann says she can walk more and lift and carry things more easily than before. “I don’t feel like I’m my age at all.”

Call or click today for membership information (PDF): (818) 876-1777

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Beautiful little faces, smiling, laughing, singing, painting and playing: my heart grew warm and the smile on my face was so wide my cheekbones started to ache.

Black, white, yellow and brown; multi colored children blending into one beautiful picture of a human rainbow in my mind: their little fingers dancing through paint, sometimes with a brush and sometimes with only their fingers as they created their individual precious works of art. Also on display during my visit to the Samuel Goldwyn Foundation Children’s Center were wonderful creations of these same children born through their arts and crafts programs.

In celebration of the “Week of the Young Child“, each classroom choose a book that they incorporated into their activities as part of a project called “story stretchers.” Rooms were decorated to match the theme of the book; there were paintings and drawings; costumes were created for acting out the stories. While we were in the play yard, a group of toddlers paraded through in animal costumes singing, “We’re going to the zoo, zoo, zoo…” It was delightful to see, and you knew a love of books was being nurtured in these very young children.

Recently, all across the country, the National Association for the Education of Young Children celebrated the “Week of the Young Child”. The NAEYC offers a voluntary accreditation system to set professional standards for early childhood education programs, and to help families identify high-quality programs. Nationwide, they give their “stamp of approval” to only about 10% of the programs out there.

The Motion Picture & Television Fund is pleased (and proud!) that our Samuel Goldwyn Foundation Children’s Center in West Los Angeles is one of those NAEYC accredited programs. The MPTF’s motto of “taking care of our own” extends to even the youngest members of our entertainment industry community. Now under the auspices of Bright Horizons Family Solutions, the SGFCC is a colorful, fun-filled educational environment for our children. From six weeks to six years old, the children at SGFCC were having such a good time it made me wish I could go back to school!

The SGFCC is a one of the brightest jewels in the MPTF crown of services.

To find out more or to schedule a visit, please call our friends Peggy Chavez or Brian Heath at (310) 968-6431.

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