Ocean County YMCA

Lynette Whiteman, Executive Director of Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey came across RWJF’s Culture of Health Initiative and brought the grant opportunity to the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation. The grant would enable the newly formed Toms River Family Health & Support Coalition to receive $200K over four years to make our community healthier. The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation brought together 49 of their partner agencies: nonprofits, schools, political leaders, police, business owners and philanthropists who all signed up to become part of this exciting new coalition. After conducting research about the current status of health issues in Toms River, the group proposed the highest areas of need as follows:

• Substance Abuse
• Senior Isolation
• Exercise for physical, social and mental wellness
• Food Insecurity

As the JLGF is a family foundation a fiscal sponsor was required to facilitate the grant. That distinct privilege was held by the Ocean County YMCA when we were awarded the grant in June 2016. Based on the above levels of need, the coaches and leadership team was chosen to attend a Boundary Spanning Institute led by the RWJ Foundation. The community leaders involved in this grant are:

• Dr Gemma MacCarrick-Brennan, Coalition Coach
• Dr Tim Brennan, Coalition Coach
• Peter Rosario, Co-Director for the Coalition; CEO of the OC YMCA
• Tara Cunningham, Co-Director for the Coalition; Director of Strategic Planning for the JLGF.
• Lee Karen, Trustee, Hope Sheds Light
• Lynette Whiteman, Executive Director, Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey