The Partners for Health Foundation Board of Trustees is pleased to announce it approved grants totaling more than $200,000 in the first half of 2023, including:
- General Operating funds to the Northeast Earth Coalition to enhance their efforts to protect the environment, and promote local sustainability and food security. Their initiatives include the Free Little Pantry Network (pictured) that is coordinated by more than 250 volunteers.
- A grant to Montclair Local for a half-time reporter who will be devoted to health care. This reporter will address topics such as homelessness, housing, childcare, mental illness, poverty, and the climate, and ways these issues impact the health of Montclair residents.
- Funding to the Perinatal Health Equity Initiative to provide breastfeeding support to Black mothers from West Orange, Bloomfield and Montclair. This program will help to reduce the risk of many health issues, including cardiovascular issues for mothers, NICU stays among infants, and increased risk of diabetes among both.
- General Operating funds to New Jersey Citizens Action Education Fund (NJCAEF) to increase economic opportunities for New Jerseyans who are members of communities that have been marginalized. NJCAEF will expand its programs and services for undocumented children, immigrant parents, low and moderate-income individuals, and BIPOC communities and workers.
- Capacity building support to Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) to develop a Client Advisory Board comprised of 10-12 NFSB clients. The Client Advisory Board (CAB) will engage clients in meaningful discussion on NFSB program design, implementation, and evaluation. The CAB will lift up community voices, ensuring that services are client-centered, and creating direct lines of communication through which evolving needs can be identified and addressed.
- Support to Montclair Gateway to Aging in Place for an architectural design competition for freestanding, practical, and reusable Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). The competition will help to address the housing income challenge for seniors who want to age in place. The proposed ADU solutions will support increased housing density in suburban communities while minimizing impact on existing streetscapes and infrastructure.
Other grants were awarded to City Green in Clifton, Neighbor to Neighbor Network in Bloomfield, The Bridge in West Caldwell, and two Montclair organizations: Good Success Academies and the Salvation Army.
Caption: Jose German-Gomez holds open a little free food pantry while Third Ward Councilwoman Lori Price Abrams adds her contribution. (Photo: NORTHEAST EARTH COALITION/MONTCLAIR LOCAL)
