Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders program was designed to provide recognition for the contributions community health leaders make to achieving RWJF's mission and goals and to enhance the capacity of these individuals to have a more permanent and widespread impact on health care problems.The program annually honors 10 individuals who have made significant contributions to improving the health and health care of their communities. Each Community Health Leader receives an award in the amount of $125,000. Twenty thousand dollars goes directly to the leader to recognize past accomplishments and $105,000 goes to an organization designated by the leader to support the continuation of and enhancement of the leader's work. This award supports Shape Up RI, the organizational home of 2009 Community Health Leader, Rajiv Kumar.Shape Up RI is a statewide exercise and weight loss challenge founded on the belief that the solution to healthy living lies in the power of teamwork and peer support. This annual health campaign encourages Rhode Islanders to pursue healthy lifestyles through increased physical activity and better nutrition. Participants compete on teams and track their weight, exercise hours, and/or pedometer steps over several weeks. The spring challenge is 12 weeks long while the summer challenge lasts 8 weeks.Project staff will now diversify participation and enhance program retention of minority participants in Shape UP RI. This award will therefore support a minority recruitment campaign to increase minority participation in the 2010 fitness challenge by 1500 enrollees, a 50 percent increase from 2009 enrollment. Staff will implement a new marketing initiative, enrollment scholarships, and diversity training for participating employers as a means of achieving the project's goals.

Grant Details

Amount Awarded $105,000.00

Awarded on: 1/1/2010

Time frame: 2/15/2010 - 8/14/2011

Grant Number: 67376