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MORRIS COUNTY TOWN HONORED FOR PARTICIPATION IN MAYORS WELLNESS CAMPAIGN

Parsippany, New Jersey – The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills and its Mayor Michael M. Luther today were honored by the Mayors Wellness Campaign as one of only six communities in the state to receive designation as a “New Jersey Healthy Town.”  Parsippany received the designation for its strong and active participation in the Mayors Wellness Campaign.

“We are delighted to recognize the efforts of Mayor Luther and Parsippany to promote active living and healthy lifestyles through the Mayors Wellness Campaign,” said Judy Doyle, Mayors Wellness Campaign Director. “Our statewide effort, which now involves more than 250 New Jersey towns, is beginning to pay dividends.”

“Putting our community in motion towards better health is one of our top priorities in Parsippany,” said Mayor Luther.  “The recognition as a New Jersey Healthy Town speaks volumes about our community commitment to better health.”
 
The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills received the “Healthy Town” designation for meeting the following requirements:

• A community must be a Mayors Wellness Campaign participant for one year or more;
• A community must demonstrate sustainable programs in each of the Mayors Wellness Campaign categories: Youth in Motion, Seniors in Motion, Employers in Motion and Community in Motion.
• A community must be willing to share its program information with other communities.

The Township of Parsippany-Troy Hills has instituted scores of wellness programs including:

Youth in Motion

• Skate Fest (2007)
• Jazzercize Classes
• Skate Park
• Bike Rodeo

Seniors in Motion

• Senior Walking Club
• Valentine’s Day and Halloween Dances
• County Nutrition Site
• Yoga for Seniors
• Senior Dance with Healthy Snacks
• Aerobics, Tai Chi, and Stretch & Strength Classes
• Healthy Bones Class
• Golf Tournament

Community in Motion

• Farmers’ Market
• Work-Out Wednesdays
• Yogurt & Yoga
• Health Fair
• Mayor’s Cook-Off (2007)
• Light Cooking Demo
• Happy Healthy Holidays
• Health Screenings
• Open Spaces, Historic Places
• Put An End to Smoking
• Heart Healthy Soups
• Family Run
• 5K Run

Employers in Motion

• Yoga Classes
• Gym at Community Center
• Breast Cancer Walkathon
• Lunchtime Program – Walk Your Way to Fitness
• 30 Miles in 30 Days Program

Other towns receiving the MWC “Healthy Town” designation are Hamilton Township (Mercer County), Woodbridge, Madison, Clifton and Bridgewater.

The Mayors Wellness Campaign is an initiative of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute (www.njhcqi.org) in partnership with the New Jersey State League of Municipalities (www.njslom.org). The MWC supports mayors as champions of community health.  The goal is to increase opportunities for New Jersey residents to participate in daily physical activity with a long-term goal of reducing health care costs secondary to obesity.  Through public-private partnerships, the MWC provides structure and resources for healthy community initiatives.  By encouraging mayors to play a leadership role in supporting local opportunities for active, healthy lifestyles, the intent of the MWC is to improve health and make New Jersey a national leader in community-based health interventions. In 2006, each of the 566 mayors in New Jersey’s municipalities were mailed the MWC “Toolbox,” a manual designed to guide them through the implementation of wellness programs in their communities.  Broken down into four major sections – Youth in Motion; Employees in Motion; Seniors in Motion; and Communities in Motion – the Toolbox outlines programs that can be directly used in every community in New Jersey.  The Toolbox can also be found on the MWC website at www.mayorswellnesscampaign.org.