The Commerce and Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ) is a statewide business advocacy organization, representing more than 900 corporate members from every industry sector. The organization asked the business community to share stories of its philanthropy. Their stories became a special section of the March issue of COMMERCE Magazine that was distributed at the reception, which was held at the elegant Nanina’s In the Park in Belleville.
This year’s champions were decided by a blue-ribbon panel of judges, which also named RWJBarnabas Health as the 2019 Extraordinary Good Works recipient.
“RWBarnabas Health has done a tremendous job of reaching out to those in at-risk communities to address the connection between a healthy lifestyle and preventing serious health issues,” said Richard Abramson, chairman of the CIANJ board of directors and a member of the law firm, Cole Schotz P.C. “They have a mobile education center to provide fresh vegetables for use in cooking classes, including a hydroponic greenhouse, which is truly innovative,” he added.
RWJBarnabas has a Wellness on Wheels (WOW) mobile education center that includes a hydroponic greenhouse and cooking school to help reduce health disparities in vulnerable communities. The WOW mobile unit provides a unique opportunity to educate families beyond traditional methods to help connect food, behavior and health.
Barbara Mintz, senior vice president of healthy living and community engagement for RWJBarnabas Health, accepted the top honor on behalf of all the employees who make the WOW mobile unit program possible.