The Gateway Family YMCA Selected to Lead Community Coalition to Receive Portion of $2 Million in Grants from New Jersey Health Initiatives

Elizabeth, NJ, August 06, 2015 --(PR.com)-- The Gateway Family YMCA announced today that it is among 10 coalitions selected to receive four-year, $200,000 grants under New Jersey Health Initiatives: Building a Culture of Health in New Jersey – Communities Moving to Action. New Jersey Health Initiatives (NJHI) is a statewide grant making program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The grant funds will be used to continue the work of the Shaping Elizabeth Community Health Initiative (CHI) in the City of Elizabeth.

“We are honored to be among the leaders chosen to move the community towards a healthier New Jersey,” stated Krystal R. Canady, CEO, The Gateway Family YMCA. “Through this funding program, The Gateway Family YMCA has a distinct opportunity to continue to impact lives in the City of Elizabeth.”

The Shaping Elizabeth Community Health Initiative (CHI) is a team composed of community leaders committed to improving the health and well-being of the City of Elizabeth by creating sustainable change to policies and environment with strategies to close the “Health Equality” gap that support improved health, nutrition and physical activity for all. Since 2013, Shaping Elizabeth has impacted the health equality of more than 2,200 city residents through a community forum, community gardens, nutrition education, worksite wellness, increased activity, HEPA (Healthy Eating and Physical Activity) Standards and improved access to clinical care.

Through its New Jersey Health Initiatives program, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation awarded 10 community coalitions grants worth $200,000 each over four years, aimed at increasing community health through partnerships.

The other nine coalitions include:
• AtlantiCare Foundation – Atlantic City
• City of Jersey City – Jersey City
• North Jersey Health Collaborative – Morristown
• Orange Public Schools – Orange
• Rutgers – The State University of New Jersey – Newark
• Township of Irvington – Irvington
• United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern NJ – Camden
• United Way of Salem County – Salem
• YMCA of Trenton - Trenton

For more information about The Gateway Family YMCA, please visit www.tgfymca.org. For more information on the Shaping Elizabeth Community Health Initiative, please contact Alane McCahey at amccahey@tgfymca.org or visit Shaping Elizabeth on Facebook.