Lima Y Selected to Lead Healthy Change in Community

At the Y, we know that our community is stronger—and healthier—when we work together. That’s why we are so encouraged by our recent selection to join the national Y’s Pioneering Healthier Communities (PHC) initiative. “The purpose of the PHC Initiative is to educate and engage community leaders regarding the important role that policy, environment and community design have on health outcomes,” said Jerry Courtney, Lima Y CEO. “We have a great group of people and organizations working together to make positive changes in our community.”

Lima YMCA President & CEO, Jerry Courtney and Janis Sunderhaus, CEO of Health Partners of Western Ohio will be team coaches that will lead the community’s efforts. Others involved include:

• Grace Allen, Plant Manager, Procter & Gamble
• Dave Berger, Mayor, City of Lima
• Tom Mazur, Executive Director, Lima/Allen County Regional Planning Commission
• Ann Miles, Chair, Lima City Schools Board of Education
• David Rosebrock, MPH, Health Commissioner, Allen County Health Department
• Mike Schoenhofer, Executive Director, Mental Health Recovery Services Board
• Brian Smith, Executive VP/COO, St. Rita’s Health Partners
• Dr. John Snyder, Dean, Ohio State University Lima Campus
• Mike Swick, CEO, Lima Memorial Health System

In 190 communities across the nation, Ys are working in collaboration with community leaders on an intentional effort to ensure that healthy living is within reach of all people. Ys are helping families put healthier food on the table by bringing fresh fruit and vegetables to low-income neighborhoods; making safe walking routes to schools possible; working with schools to increase physical education and physical activity during the school day; and that is just the beginning.

“The Lima Y was selected to join PHC because of its existing partnerships and collaborations, willingness of community leadership to work together and community demographics,” said Shannon Cosgrove, Program Manager, Health Equity of the YMCA of the USA. “They were selected from a very competitive applicant pool.”

PHC is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Photo Caption: Ileana Arias, PhD, Principal Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks to members from the Lima PHC team at a conference last month in Washington D.C.