Madison Area YMCA Senior Director of Organizational Development Sharon Kunas; Quest’s National QuestCares Leader Caitlin McHugh; Madison Area YMCA 2014 Annual Campaign Volunteer Chairperson Kerry Patel; Madison Area YMCA Board Member Georgeanne Limbach; Barb Short, the Executive Director of the Quest Diagnostics Foundation and director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Inclusion for the company; and Madison Area YMCA President & CEO Diane Mann.
Quest Diagnostics, the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, headquartered in Madison, New Jersey, and the Madison Area YMCA have partnered to establish an innovative new Community Wellness Initiative, which launched simultaneously with the Y’s Annual Campaign kickoff on Feb. 26.
Quest Diagnostics and the Madison Area YMCA, which reaches those living and working in Madison, Chatham and Florham Park, established the partnership this winter with shared goals to help improve health literacy and health behaviors in our local community. This corporate partnership for community wellness is the first of its kind for the Madison Area YMCA.
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“We are honored and excited to partner with Quest, a leader in the healthcare industry and in corporate social responsibility,” said Madison Area YMCA President & CEO Diane Mann. “Quest and the Y share many common goals for wellness and community wellbeing, and our shared commitments to social responsibility and community health led to forming this wonderful initiative for our area.”
In November 2012, Quest CEO Steve Rusckowski founded, along with Madison Mayor Bob Conley and Drew University President Vivian Bull, the award-winning Chief Executive Council for Madison (CECM), inviting chief executives who lead corporations in Madison or live in Madison and lead corporations elsewhere to come together for stakeholder collaboration, collective community impact, and to foster the next generation of Madison’s leaders. Y CEO Mann and Board Chair Tom Uhlman were invited to serve on the CECM, and the Quest-Y Madison partnership is but one example of impact yielded from that collaborative group, which recently earned the New Jersey State Department of Community Affairs Innovation in Governance award.
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“Both the Y and Quest see social responsibility and better health as integral to the services we provide to individuals and families. As a healthcare leader dedicated to empowering better health with diagnostic insights – and with our 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a healthier world – we saw in the Madison Area YMCA a partner with strong leadership and impact with whom to join forces and empower our local community to be strong and well,” said Barb Short, Executive Director of the Quest Diagnostics Foundation and director of Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Inclusion for the company. “We’re looking forward to teaming up with the Y and the local community to improve our health literacy and our health behaviors, and in so doing, learn how we can better maintain good health, manage chronic illness and fight off disease.”
Highlights of the partnership will include vouchers for Quest Blueprint for Wellness® screenings and “My Guide to Health™” personal reports to help participants understand their current health status, identify risks and consider appropriate lifestyle, exercise and nutrition changes. The 2014 initiative also plans workshops and a speaker series on wellness, health, nutrition and healthy lifestyles for children, teens and adults of all ages. 2012 Olympic Gold Medalist for women’s rowing and Quest community wellness ambassador Esther Lofgren will also participate in key wellness events.
The Madison Area YMCA’s Annual Campaign raises awareness and charitable support for the Y’s cause to advance social responsibility, healthy living and youth development. Funds donated to the campaign help ensure that Y membership and programs are accessible to all community members regardless of ability to pay. The 2014 Community Wellness Initiative, timed with the campaign kickoff, is chaired by Quest’s National QuestCares Leader Caitlin McHugh and Madison QuestCares Leader Steve Bonventre, in partnership with Y leadership and QuestCares. Madison employee volunteers are teamed up with Y leadership, staff and volunteers to raise health literacy, awareness and funds.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services that patients and doctors need to make better healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic information services through its network of laboratories and patient service centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing innovative diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that help improve patient care. Additional information is available at QuestDiagnostics.com. Follow us at Facebook.com/QuestDiagnostics and Twitter.com/QuestDX.
About the Madison Area YMCA
The Madison Area YMCA is a cause-driven charitable organization dedicated to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The Madison Area YMCA offers enriching community wellness and health-enhancing programs such as LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, a no-cost cancer survivors’ program; Walk With Ease, an arthritis management program; and Partners In Prevention, a community-wide child sexual abuse prevention program. The Madison Area YMCA offers a range of youth sports and youth leadership programs and enrichment classes; and a range of adult fitness and wellness programs at its Family Center. The Y also offers quality childcare, early childhood education, kindergarten and summer camps at its regionally renowned F.M. Kirby Children’s Center. The Y is inclusive of all people and offers programs and services that develop healthy spirit, mind and body, and that promote the Y core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.
