Funding deepens longstanding partnership with United Way of Greater Newark
Brooke DeAngelo, Senior Director of Resource Development, United Way of Greater Newark; Victoria Kamalova, Manager, Operations and Data, United Way of Greater Newark; Catherine Wilson, President and CEO, United Way of Greater Newark; Balpreet Grewal-Virk, Senior Vice President, Community Health, RWJBarnabas Health; and Kieshia Bowman, Senior Manager, Marketing, Volunteers and Events, United Way of Greater Newark.
West Orange, N.J., July 23 2025 –RWJBarnabas Health announced that it is providing $1.5 million to the Newark Asset Building Coalition (NABC), led by United Way of Greater Newark, to support its efforts to address poverty in New Jersey’s largest city and reduce the number of residents who struggle to meet their basic needs.
70 percent of Newark households meet the Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) threshold. ALICE households are working but struggle to meet their basic housing, childcare, education, food, transportation, health care and technology needs.
“RWJBarnabas Health is committed to building healthier communities by addressing the social determinants of health that lead to positive health outcomes,” said Balpreet Grewal-Virk, RWJBarnabas Health Senior Vice President, Community Health. “Financial insecurity is one of the greatest barriers to good health. That is why we are proud to partner with United Way of Greater Newark to support programs that improve financial stability for our ALICE employees and communities.”
RWJBarnabas Health’s contribution will support NABC’s coordinated, city-wide financial stability strategy to provide Newark residents with the necessary tools to increase income and assets while reducing debt. The holistic initiative, which aims to reduce the number of residents who meet the ALICE threshold, includes the expansion of financial coaching services and job skills training programs and a public education campaign to reach residents, particularly in communities with limited access to resources.
“We’re excited to partner with RWJBarnabas Health and growing NABC’s funding to further support our ALICE population,” said Catherine Wilson, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Newark. “ALICE populations are growing each year and with this support we hope to expand our reach and help more families achieve financial stability and growth.”
Supporting partners of NABC include BRICK, Ironbound Community Corporation, Urban League Essex County, New Community Corporation, South Ward Environmental Alliance, Programs for Parents and New Jersey Citizen Action.
RWJBarnabas Health has historically partnered with local, state and federal leaders, and organizations, like United Way of Greater Newark, to collaborate and innovate to highlight the issues faced by ALICE households and to generate policies and solutions that promote financial and economic stability.
About RWJBarnabas Health
RWJBarnabas Health is New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive academic health system, caring for more than five million people annually. Nationally renowned for quality and safety, the system includes 14 hospitals and 9,000 affiliated physicians integrated to provide care at more than 700 patient care locations.
RWJBarnabas Health partners with its communities to build and sustain a healthier New Jersey. It provides patient-centered care in a compassionate manner and is the state’s largest safety-net provider and leader in addressing the social determinants of health. RWJBarnabas Health provides food to the hungry, housing for the homeless and economic opportunities to those most vulnerable.
RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to enhancing access to care includes a transformative partnership with Rutgers University, including the Rutgers Cancer Institute — the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers, with more than 44,000 employees, contributing more than $5.5 billion to the state economy every year. For more information, visit www.RWJBH.org
About United Way of Greater Newark
Founded in 1923, United Way of Greater Newark (UWGN) works to build strong, inclusive communities where everyone has the chance to thrive. Serving 14 municipalities in Essex and Hudson counties, UWGN empowers residents to live healthier lives by providing access to quality education and opportunities for economic advancement. UWGN’s impact areas support healthy community, youth opportunity, financial security and community resiliency. To learn more visit uwnewark.org.
Contact: Carrie Cristello
Carrie.Cristello@rwjbh.org