Free fitness, cooking and wellness classes offered to improve the health of New Yorkers
NEW YORK (June 24, 2013) — EmblemHealth continues to demonstrate what care feels like with the launch of "Live Healthy," a neighborhood-based program that builds on the company's tradition of supporting community and family-fun activities while promoting healthy, active lifestyles and a healthy diet. EmblemHealth is partnering with the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF) in Chinatown and with the Greater Brooklyn Health Coalition (GBHC) in Brooklyn to offer free, ongoing fitness classes, cooking demonstrations and health care education. The Live Healthy program began June 17, 2013, and will continue throughout the year.
By working closely with CACF and GBHC and their member nonprofit organizations, this program will effectively reach New Yorkers and provide them the resources necessary to live a healthier lifestyle. It also advances EmblemHealth's commitment to build healthy communities and extends the company's mission to help people stay healthy, get well and live better.
"We believe that partnering with organizations in these communities will increase access to the programs that help people live healthier lives," said David Flemister, Director, Brand Strategy and Community Marketing at EmblemHealth. "GBHC and CACF understand the needs of their communities, and this program was specifically developed to help address those needs."
"According to the NYS Department of Health, one in four adult New Yorkers is obese," said Kimberly George, Executive Director of GBHC. "Our goal is to provide the resources and education necessary to help those who would like to make a change."
"Various nonprofits in Chinatown and in the larger New York City, Asian-Pacific American community are always looking for additional ways to achieve positive community-wide health outcomes. Partnering with EmblemHealth helps expand programming regarding healthy eating and active living and is a huge benefit for everyone," said Ryan Natividad, Health Policy Coordinator at CACF.
The classes will be hosted by a number of different local nonprofit organizations over the course of the year to ensure community members from different neighborhoods have access. The first to host are University Settlement in Chinatown and Diaspora Community Services in Brooklyn.
For a full class schedule, visit www.emblemhealthlivehealthy.com.
About EmblemHealth
EmblemHealth, Inc. provides quality health care coverage and administrative services to approximately 3.4 million people. Groups and individuals can choose from a variety of PPO, EPO and HMO plans, as well as coverage for prescription drugs and dental and vision care. EmblemHealth offers a choice of networks, including quality doctors and other health care professionals throughout the region, leading acute care hospitals across the tri-state area, and physicians and hospitals across all 50 states. For more information, visit www.emblemhealth.com.
About CACF
The Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF), the nation's only pan-Asian children's advocacy organization, aims to improve the health and well-being of Asian-Pacific American children and families in New York City. Founded in 1986, CACF advocates for improved policies, funding, and services for children and families of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander backgrounds. For more information, visit www.cacf.org.
About GBHC
The Greater Brooklyn Health Coalition (GBHC) was formed in 1997 as a Jewish Community Relations Council project to identify the organizations that best represent the ethnic and faith-based groups that reside in Brooklyn, as well as the health care systems serving them. Today, over 130 agencies are members of GBHC, which includes community-based organizations, hospitals, health insurance companies, educational institutions, disease associations, and local government departments. For more information, visit www.brooklynhealth.org. GBHC is housed at CAMBA, one of Brooklyn's largest and most impactful human services organizations. For more information, please see www.camba.org.