Novo Nordisk to fund child health initiative in Trenton

July 20, 2016 | Community News and Media, Media Coverage, Trenton

Originally posted on NJ.com

By Thomas Regan | For NJ.com 
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on July 01, 2016

TRENTON — Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk will fund an initiative to improve the health of Trenton’s children and families, officials said.

The program, called the Community Health Collaborative, will be coordinated by the Trenton Health Team and will look to educate parents and promote physical activity and healthy food choices for grade school children.

“My administration has been working diligently with community partners to incorporate health considerations in all of our policies and planning efforts,” said Mayor Eric Jackson. “We look forward to a powerful collaboration aimed at building the long-term health of our community.”

The Novo Nordisk funding will support programs designed to empower parents and caregivers, provide healthy food choices in schools, improve access to healthy, affordable foods, and increase physical activity.

These programs will take the form of dramatic presentations, school gardening, cooking demonstrations, taste tests, interactive technology, and targeted physical play activities and exercises.

The Trenton Health Team will lead the collaboration that will draw efforts from Isles, Inc., The Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County, the YMCA of Trenton, the YMCA State Alliance, George Street Playhouse, GoNoodle, Wellness in the Schools and The College of New Jersey.

The program hopes to prevent early onset of type 2 diabetes and decrease the number of children at an unhealthy weight.

“We are deeply gratified by the investment that Novo Nordisk is making in our community, especially in its children,” said Gregory Paulson, Executive Director of the Trenton Health Team.  “This program aligns directly with our mission to transform healthcare for the greater Trenton community.”

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