The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) initiated the Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leaders in 1991 to recognize individuals' contributions to improving health and health care in their communities. The award program is ongoing.

Through $125,000 recognition awards, Community Health Leaders annually honors 10 unsung and unusually resourceful people working in communities across the country to improve health and access to care for underserved and often disenfranchised populations. The award is composed of $105,000 to be used at the leader's discretion for his or her project and $20,000 to the leader for personal development.

The outreach effort to find grassroots candidates is a crucial element of the award program. It includes selected mailing lists, site visits to target areas and networking. The Community Health Leaders national advisory committee (see the Web site for a list of members) continues to refine the outreach process.

Key Results

• Through 2008, 163 leaders have received awards — including five chosen through a special funding process to recognize leaders working in the Gulf Coast region affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. In three instances two leaders have shared one award.
• To date, leaders have been chosen from 45 states, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
• For a listing of leaders by year and state, with biographical sketches and contact information, see the Community Health Leaders Web site.

Program Elements and Management
RWJF announces the new leaders at an annual dinner and reception where they are introduced to the public and a visual presentation of their work is made. All leaders are invited to participate in the annual meeting.

Enhancing both local and national recognition of the leaders and their work has been an important element of the award from its inception.

Third Sector New England managed the program from its inception through the middle of 2007 when RWJF completed the transition to bring the program inside the Foundation to be managed by RWJF program and administrative staff. Janice Ford Griffin is the national program director.