Morris Area Wellness Partnership

In 2004, the Institute of Medicine released "Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance", reporting that over 9 million children living in the U.S. were considered obese. This prompted then US Surgeon General David Satcher to issue a national call to action "to reduce overweight and obesity" in American children. Morristown Memorial Hospital (now Morristown Medical Center) and its Goryeb Children's Hospital responded by hosting the area's very first childhood obesity summit. 

Following this important community gathering, a group of individuals came forward determined to do more than just talk about childhood obesity. This group formed a steering committee that would later become Morris Area Wellness Partnership. The Partnership received its non-profit, 501(c)3 status in January 2011.
 
Morris Area Wellness Partnership is a volunteer group of community leaders working in local government, health care, fitness, and education, who are working to increase opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity for children and families in the Morris County NJ area. 

The members of the Morris Area Wellness Partnership are:

Arlene Stoller, MPH, CHES, Co-chair, Morris COunty Office of Health Management
Denise Lanza, CPRP, MAdS, Co-chair, Morris County Park Commission
Bill McCambley, CSCS, Personal Trainer and Certified Fitness Professional
Carol Armour, President, Morris Center YMCA
Debra Freschl, RD, Nutrition Coordinator, Morristown Medical Center
Margaret Nilson, Parent, Morris School District
Maryann Walsh, MPH, CHES, Health Educator, Morristown Medical Center
Michael Gerardi, MD, FAACP, FACEP, Director, Pediatric Emergency Services, Morristown Medical Center
Rebekka Zydel, Child and Family Resources
Vicki Hughes, RN, Community Health Manager, Morristown Medical Center