Pastor Robert L. Foley Sr. Receives Award for Commitment to Eliminating Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

At a ceremony commemorating Pastor Robert L. Foley's many years of service as pastor of Cosmopolitan Church of the Lord Jesus, Bronx Health REACH's Charmaine Ruddock presented Pastor Foley with an award for his exceptional leadership, vision and commitment to making health equality a reality in the Bronx. Pastor Foley has been a partner with Bronx Health REACH for over seventeen years, starting when the Institute for Family Health launched a community coalition whose goal was the elimination of racial and ethnic health disparities in the South Bronx.

Pastor Foley Sr. has been a leader in the Bronx advocating for long term sustainable change to the conditions that contribute to Bronx residents living sicker and dying younger than they should. In addition to his work with Bronx Health REACH he had been a leader in the Black United Leadership in the Bronx (BULB). He also serves as a member of the Community Advisory Board of Montefiore Hospital, the Advisory Board of the Bronx Region of the American Cancer Society, the New York Yankees Community Relations Council, and the Police/Clergy Liaison of the NYPD.

He has been a force to be reckoned with in ensuring that Bronx residents live in a Bronx that allows them to have long, healthy lives.

Read about the Bronx Health REACH profile on Pastor Foley.

Bronx Health REACH Promotes Anti-Sugary Drink Campaign to Bronx Residents

With a grant from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Bronx Health REACH with its partner Mainland Media has been promoting delicious fruit infused water for the public to sample as an alternative to sugary drinks. At the same time raising awareness of the health impact of sugary drinks and to counter the beverage industry’s marketing of those drinks in the South Bronx. Residents get to taste watermelon and mint, strawberry and basil, and mixed berry fruit infused water. Many are encouraged to drink water in place of sugar sweetened beverages for the health and cost-saving benefits.

The Mainland team has appeared at the South Bronx Farmers Market and the June, July and August Boogie on the Boulevard events. At the July and August Boogie events the drinking stations were crowded by many bicyclists seeking relief from the heat, requesting their water bottles to be filled with the fruit infused water. Overall, residents enjoyed the water and were given recipes to make their own delicious fruit infused water at home. Visit this page to learn more about avoiding the harmful effects of sugary beverages.

Bronx Health REACH Partner Casita Maria Working to Make the Bronx The World's Strongest Borough

Bronx Health REACH along with partner Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education, and their collaborators New York Community Trust, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital and Bronx Cultural Ambassador, Baron Ambrosia are engaging Bronx residents of all ages to make the Bronx “The World’s Strongest Borough” by doing pull ups. To get into the Guinness Book of World Records, Baron Ambrosia has been taking a "Mobile Pull-Up Bar of Power” to Bronx parks and public events. He was at the August 20 Boogie on the Boulevard to get more participants to add to the number of pull-ups.

The "Mobile Pull-Up Bar of Power” has even been brought to schools during fitness classes. A permanent “Pull-Up Bar of Power” and mural was unveiled back in June at the Claremont Neighborhood Center. If you would like to contribute pull-ups towards the Guinness Book of World Records making the Bronx “The World’s Strongest Borough,” Baron Ambrosia will have the "Mobile Pull-Up Bar of Power” at the September 10th Boogie on the Boulevard, (Grand Concourse between 162nd to 170th Streets) from 12 to 4 p.m.

WellCare Health Plans Contribute to Healthy Bodega Program

WellCare Health Plans contributed $2,000 during the grand opening of their Bronx Welcome Room at the WellCare Health Plans office towards the Bronx Bodega Marketing Campaign that Bronx Health REACH and its partners in the Bronx Bodega Workgroup are developing. The donation reinforces WellCare Health Plans commitment to the health of the community by recognizing the importance of providing Bronx residents access to healthy food at Bronx bodegas. Presenting the check to Bronx Health REACH's Charmaine Ruddock are (left to right): Ryan Fogarty, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Joiel Ray-Alexander, Director of Brand Marketing, Blue the WellCare Bear, and Maria Auciello, Manager of Advocacy and Community Based Programs. 

Goya Foods Partners with Bronx Health REACH Healthy Bodega Program to Launch 'Better for You' Low Sodium Products in Bronx Bodegas

Goya Foods, in partnership with Bronx Health REACH, the Hispanic Information and Telecommunications Network, Inc. (HITN) and the Bodega Association of the United States (ASOBEU), provided free taste-tests to bodega customers at four Bronx bodegas, as part of their launch of Goya's 'Better for You' low sodium products in the Bronx. The cooking demonstrations and taste-tests took place August 1 to 4.

A Caribbean Red Bean Salad made with Goya's low sodium red kidney beans along with other Goya products was offered in taste tests to all passersby. Many enjoyed the delicious salad and were given the recipe to prepare at home. After seeing and hearing about the positive reception from the four cooking demos, Goya Foods has committed to working with the rest of the model bodegas to providing taste tests, and training for bodega owners and staff, who offer prepared food at their bodegas, to prepare these healthy and delicious low sodium dishes for their customers to purchase.