Partners for Health is pleased to announce the following individuals have been elected to serve as Trustees of the Foundation: 

David Moore, originally from London, UK, began his professional journey in finance, entering the world of International Banking in the City of London. However, his passion for music soon led him to pivot, blending his financial acumen with the entertainment industry. He joined Metropolis Studios during its formative years, where he played a key role in the growth of what is now Europe’s leading independent recording studio. David’s diverse career also includes notable roles with Jazz Summers (manager for Wham! and Lisa Stansfield), Big Life Records, Management & Publishing, and Polygram Records.

A trip to New York City sparked David’s ambition to build a future in the United States. After eight years of dedication, he earned his green card. Inspired by his husband’s pursuit of a theatre career, David shifted his focus from music to the theatre arts, merging his financial expertise with his passion for the performing arts. He joined Dramatists Play Service as Accounts Manager, where his hard work and commitment eventually led him to serve as Acting President and VP of Finance & Administration.

Currently, David serves as the Controller for the New Jersey Symphony, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect with New Jersey’s diverse communities through the transformative power of live symphonic music, inspiring, entertaining, and educating audiences.

A steadfast advocate for diversity and inclusivity in the arts, David now resides in New Jersey with his family and an eclectic assortment of pets. Outside of work, he enjoys dancing around the house and sharing his love of music with his son.

Jenny Peck has dedicated much of her professional life to public health initiatives, working on various projects aimed at improving health outcomes in underserved communities. She is currently the Deputy Director of Development for Amref Health Africa in the USA, the largest African-based and African-led health development NGO in the world. Working in 35 countries across the continent, Amref Health Africa focuses on the most critical health issues, working in the space of HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, water and sanitation, maternal and family health, clinical and surgical outreach, and the training of hundreds of thousands of health workers.

Jenny lived in Tanzania, East Africa from 2006 – 2018, serving for the first two of these years as an Education Volunteer for the U.S. Peace Corps. In this role, she taught math and science at a government high school with a class size often in excess of 100 students. Subsequently, she served as the U.S. Program and Operations Manager for Global Health Corps; Managing Director for Mufindi Orphans, and Director of Community Health for Mufindi Orphans.

Jenny’s areas of expertise include donor support, engagement, and resource mobilization, individual and institutional fundraising, as well as management, leadership training, and cross-cultural coaching.  Jenny has also served as a Den Leader for BSA Scouting, and she is the Co-founder of Every Child Tanzania NGO. 

Jenny earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from the University of Kansas. She and her husband have four children.

Steve Reid is a seasoned leader with more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit accounting, finance, and operations. As Chief Growth Officer for Charter School Business Management (CSBM) and FOREsight Services for Good, Steve spearheads the growth and strategic direction of both organizations, driving innovation and expanding their impact. He is deeply committed to supporting clients through fiscal challenges, with a proven track record in financial turnarounds and implementing robust financial systems.

A champion of leveraging technology to foster efficiency and collaboration, Steve has transformed how his organizations operate and deliver value to clients. Under his leadership, CSBM and FOREsight have adopted various financial technologies, streamlining processes, improving accuracy, and enhancing team and client experiences. Steve’s ability to align technology with organizational goals has been instrumental in helping hundreds of various non-profits across the country achieve sustainable growth.

Steve’s leadership philosophy is rooted in mentorship, collaboration, and resilience. He draws inspiration from the influential mentors in his life, who taught him to embrace challenges as opportunities and lead with empathy. A graduate of Seton Hall University with a Bachelor of Arts, and Cambridge College with a Master’s in Management, Steve was recognized in 2020 as one of Profiles in Diversity Journal’s “Black Leaders Worth Watching.”

As a board member of the Partners for Health Foundation, Steve brings his expertise in strategic growth, finance & accounting, and technological innovation to advance the Foundation’s mission of promoting health equity through learning, grantmaking, and advocacy.

Pictured from left are newly elected Trustees Steve Reid, David Moore and Jenny Peck.

The Montclair-based Partners for Health Foundation is among 11 winners named in the national “I Partner with My Public Library” awards. Created by the non-profit organization Let’s Move in Libraries, this award celebrates the crucial work of community collaborators to the work of public libraries across the United States and Canada. This year’s winners were selected from a pool of 61 total nominees and will be recognized at an online award ceremony on November 8. Partners for Health is the only winner from New Jersey.

“We are incredibly proud to collaborate with Partners for Health, whose commitment to improving the well-being of our community strengthens the impact of our services every day. Their unwavering support has helped us address essential needs like food security, social services, and raising awareness of poverty, which are vital to the health and resilience of Montclair. We are grateful for their partnership and dedication,” said Radwa Ali, Director of Montclair Public Library.

“Partnerships with anchor institutions like the Montclair Public Library are integral to the Foundation’s ability to meeting its mission. The Library is a true partner that cares for all community members who utilize their facilities and participate in their programs. We are proud to share this recognition with them,” said Pam Scott, Executive Director of Partners for Health.

The Montclair Public Library Foundation nominated Partners for Health for their steadfast support and partnership, specifically for the Library’s summer lunch program, social worker position, and recent “Poverty, by America” author talk and discussions.

The Library’s summer lunch program aims to feed children who do not have access to schools’ free and reduced lunch programs due to the summer break. In the past, Partners for Health’s funding allowed for summer staff who organized and served healthy lunches donated by Toni’s Kitchen. In 2018, the New Jersey Library Association awarded Partners for Health a Library Service Award for its role in this initiative.

In 2023, Partners for Health granted $100,000 to the Library to hire a part-time social worker for two years. This public-facing staff member is responsible for a range of services, including consulting and assisting patrons, training staff on how to approach vulnerable individuals, developing policy and programs addressing equity and inclusion, overseeing a partnership with Montclair State University, and connecting at-risk patrons with social service agencies.

“Partners for Health followed a detailed process with multiple interviews in order to assemble a fuller understanding of the community that specifically seeks out the Library for services,” said Selwa Shamy, Assistant Director at the Library. “From their findings, they awarded more money for the grant than was requested to expand hours and hire a highly qualified professional.”

In 2024, Partners for Health and the Library collaborated on a project to raise awareness of poverty that was centered on “Poverty, by America,” the bestselling book by Matthew Desmond, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Princeton sociologist. Local book clubs read “Poverty, by America” throughout the summer with books donated by the Foundation. The project culminated on September 12 when Desmond joined Andrea Elliott, a New York Times reporter and author of the Pulitzer-winning “Invisible Child,” for a conversation as part of the Library’s Open Book / Open Mind series.

About the Award

Since 2016, the North Carolina-based non-profit organization Let’s Move in Libraries has been a national and international voice advocating for strengthened partnerships between public libraries and others that want communities to be healthier places for all. Through this work, it has seen that public libraries can do a lot to promote health, but this health promotion work is almost always made possible by community partners and community collaborators. Recognizing a gap around this topic, in 2023 Let’s Move in Libraries launched the annual I Partner with My Public Library Award to begin the process of creating a platform to celebrate and acknowledge the crucial work of community collaborators to the work of public librarianship. Visit letsmovelibraries.org/partner-award for more information.

Learn more about the 2024 winners and read the inspiring stories behind each recipient.

About the Montclair Public Library

Founded in 1893, the Montclair Public Library serves the residents of Montclair, New Jersey. It has two facilities: the Main Library at 50 South Fullerton Avenue (open seven days a week) and the Bellevue Avenue Branch at 185 Bellevue Avenue (open six days a week). In 2023, the Library saw 170,000 visits; circulated 390,000 items including books, eBooks, movies, Wi-Fi hotspots, museum passes, tools, and recreational objects; and welcomed 22,000 participants in a wide variety of programs that reflect Montclair’s energy and diversity. Visit montclairlibrary.org for hours of operation and current services.

About the Montclair Public Library Foundation

The Montclair Public Library Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization that provides support and advocacy for a strong public library in Montclair, NJ. The Board and staff raise funds year-round for library programs, events, collection enhancement, staff development, special projects, and other critical needs that exceed municipal funding. The vision of the Foundation is to enhance and expand the library’s role as a community pillar; to ensure free and equitable access to resources; and to ensure the future of our library as a robust center of literacy, economic opportunity, life-long learning, discovery, and community life. Visit https://montclairplf.org/ for more information.