An Independent Public Charity
April 30, 2008
With the sale of Mountainside Hospital from Atlantic Health to Merit Health System, a for-profit owner, the Foundation became an independent public charity known as the Mountainside Health Foundation. On April 30, 2008, a court decision officially designates the charitable funds held by the Foundation for our new mission to strengthen health and wellness.
Team Health
June 1, 2008
The Foundation’s first grants for “Team Health” projects are awarded to six schools in Bloomfield, Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Montclair and West Orange to encourage healthy eating and opportunities for children to be more active.
Produce Grants
April 6, 2009
The Foundation’s first grants for the purchasing of produce are distributed, as part of a larger strategy to address local hunger. More than $540,000 has been awarded since this fresh produce program began in 2009.
Food Security Colloquium
April 22, 2009
Emergency food providers, social service agencies and representatives from other key sectors of the local food system gathered for a three-part Food Security Colloquium. This series provided a forum to confront the challenges of hunger through the formation of new partnerships, creative problem solving and enhanced communication.
New name, same mission
October 1, 2010
The Foundation’s name is changed to Partners for Health, enhancing our ability to communicate our distinct mission and unique approach to grantmaking.
Safe Return to Play
March 1, 2011
A multi-year campaign to promote concussion guidelines for student athletes is funded through a partnership with the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey. An educational luncheon held in March 2011 empowered parents to be advocates for their children following a sports-related concussion.
Eat. Play. Live… Better
March 15, 2011
Eat. Play. Live… Better, a community health initiative designed to make the healthy choice the easy choice, is launched at Bike and Walk Montclair’s Tour de Montclair. This multi-partner, multi-sector initiative is driven by evidence that a lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits contribute to many chronic diseases that are otherwise preventable.
TEDx Montclair
November 5, 2011
TEDx Montclair held at Montclair State University to promote a dialogue about how we as individuals and as a community can “eat, play and live” better lives.
Employee Wellness
March 23, 2012
An employee wellness breakfast featured a keynote address on the benefits of promoting a healthy workforce, followed by a presentation of a toolkit to promote use of stairs at the workplace.
Edgemont Park House
July 2, 2012
Funding is approved to renovate Montclair’s Edgemont Park House, to provide a space for programming and services for older adults.
Fight Hunger the Healthy Way
October 23, 2013
The Fight Hunger the Healthy Way campaign is launched on October 23, 2013 at the Montclair Art Museum. The goals of the campaign include raising awareness about the rising problem of hunger, and inspiring action to donate healthy foods to emergency food programs.
Aging in our communities
February 1, 2014
Lifelong Montclair is launched to enrich the lives of area seniors as part of the Township’s initiative to support Montclair as an age-friendly community. This project addresses key findings of the 2012 community assessment conducted by the Department of Eldercare Services at UJC MetroWest NJ, and results of a survey of nearly 800 local residents over the age of 55.
Pedestrian Safety
October 1, 2014
Pedestrian safety advocacy efforts include Drive with Care Montclair, a campaign which focuses on making streets safe, so all users of the road feel safe whether they are traveling by foot, bike, car, or school bus.
Matching Grants Fight Hunger
December 1, 2014
The Foundation announces the first year-end Matching Grants campaign to benefit local soup kitchens, food pantries and agencies that provide services to those who are homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless. Since 2014, the program has generated donations from the community of close to $1 million and resulted in grants totaling $1.9 million.
The MILL
May 1, 2015
The Montclair Institute for Lifelong Learning (MILL) offers the first semester of classes in March 2015. MILL classes foster opportunities for lifelong learning and socialization for adults aged 55+. It is a collaborative effort of the Montclair Public Library and its Adult School of Montclair Department, the Montclair Art Museum, the Montclair History Center, and Montclair State University.
Film Festival panel on Hunger & Homelessness
May 2, 2015
A conversation on Hunger & Homelessness in Montclair was presented as part of the 2015 Montclair Film Festival. The panel discussion, moderated by Steve Adubato (WNET/NJTV), used the festival’s screening of TIME OUT OF MIND, a film starring Richard Gere, as a platform for dialogue to explore local issues and potential solutions.
Addressing Oral Health
March 1, 2016
Funding is approved to support the KinderSmile Community Oral Health Center, located in Bloomfield, creating a dental home for low-income children in our service area. The Center increases access to oral care and oral health education while collecting vital statistics that can be used to assist the state of New Jersey
Young Voices
May 6, 2016
Young Voices, a panel discussion held during the 2016 Montclair Film Festival, used submissions to the Festival’s Emerging Filmmaker Competition as a platform to examine concerns of local youth and how the community can provide a safety net to support them. The conversation was moderated by John Mooney of NJ Spotlight.
Farm to Preschool
September 1, 2017
City Green receives funding to pilot a Farm to Preschool program among early care and education centers to increase young children’s exposure to and consumption of locally-grown fruits and vegetables.
JED Campus
October 10, 2017
Funding is approved to bring JED Campus to Montclair State University. The program guides colleges and universities through a collaborative process of systems, program and policy development to build upon existing student mental health, substance abuse, and suicide prevention efforts.
10 Years!
October 13, 2017
To celebrate the 10-Year Anniversary of Partners for Health, the Foundation announces it is seeking nominations for Community Impact Awards. Ten award recipients, or their designated non-profit organization, will receive grants of up to $10,000 each in November 2018.
Healthier Communities
January 1, 2018
New Jersey Healthy Community Network grants were awarded to seven grantees to prevent chronic disease and obesity by enhancing the built environment and developing policies to support healthy eating and active living. Partners for Health have been awarding these grants since 2010.
Slam My Story!
March 18, 2018
As part of the Foundation’s efforts to support the voices of young people, funding is provided for Slam My Story, a Montclair Film program that gives high school students an opportunity to share their individual stories and/or college essays in front of a live audience. The premier Slam event was held on March 18, 2018.
Partners For Health Foundation Announces Founder’s Award
June 28, 2018
The Board of Trustees of Partners for Health Foundation announced that it is presenting its 10-Year Anniversary Founder’s Award to longtime Board member Paul A. Lisovicz, who served as a Trustee from 2005-2015 and Board Chair from 2009-2013.
Breakfast After the Bell
August 29, 2018
Berkeley Elementary School in Bloomfield is now implementing a new pilot of “Breakfast after the Bell” through a partnership with Bloomfield Department of Health and Human Services. The school hosted a kick-off and registration event on Wednesday, August 29th.
Community Impact Awards Presentation
November 29, 2018
To celebrate our 10th anniversary, Partners for Health Foundation awarded 10 Community Impact Awards, and grants totaling $100,000, to recognize nonprofit organizations and individuals making a significant difference in the health and well-being of local communities. Learn about the awardees at partnersfdn.org/2018-community-impact-awards/
Honoree at MAM Art Party Luncheon
May 3, 2019
Partners for Health Foundation is humbled to have been chosen as this year’s honoree at the Montclair Art Museum Art Party Luncheon on May 16, 2019. The luncheon was co-chaired by Susann Connors and Janice Linaugh.
Cliff Finkle Elected PfH Board Chair
January 10, 2020
Please join us in welcoming PFH’s new Board Chair, Clifford B. Finkle IV! Cliff joined the PFH Board in 2014, and has served as Finance Chair since 2015 and First Vice Chair since 2016. Additionally, Cliff sits on the Foundation’s Nominating and Strategic Planning Committees.
$80K in Contributions Reached for Toni’s Kitchen!
June 12, 2020
In late April, three local funders joined the Township of Montclair to address the escalating food need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Partners for Health Foundation, The Schumann Fund for New Jersey, the Montclair Fund for Women and the Township contributed a total of $80,000 to establish a pooled Matching Fund for Toni’s Kitchen. Donations made directly to Toni’s Kitchen by May 31, 2020 were to be matched dollar for dollar up to $80,000 and used to strengthen the availability of food in the local community.
Partners for Health Welcomes Three New Trustees
January 1, 2021
The Partners for Health Foundation is pleased to welcome Diana Candelejo, MPA; Felicia Fdyfil-Horne, LCSW; and Paula Gutierrez, MHA to the Board of Trustees!
A New Vision and Mission
August 26, 2021
Following an in-depth Strategic Planning process, Partners for Health updated its Mission and Vision to be more closely aligned with its commitment to invest in programs, policies and organizations that lead to healthy communities. Vision: Thriving communities that ensure health for all Mission: Partnering to advance health equity through learning, grant making, and advocating
Doug Bauer Elected Foundation Board Chair; Dana Van Wie Joins The Board
January 1, 2022
Partners for Health becomes Private Foundation
January 1, 2023
Effective January 1, 2023, Partners for Health began operating as a Private Foundation, and will no longer be a Public Charity that raises money from the community. This shift has allowed us to focus more resources on activities that includes our ongoing grantmaking as well as convening local partners, educating the public on important