DR. MEHMET OZ, FORMER GOVERNOR JIM FLORIO AND FIRST LADY LUCINDA FLORIO NAMED HONORARY CO-CHAIRS OF NEW JERSEY “MAYORS WELLNESS CAMPAIGN”

GOVERNOR CORZINE CABINET MEMBERS WELCOME EFFORT

Trenton – New Jersey’s unique and innovative “Mayors Wellness Campaign” (www.mayorswellnesscampaign.org) added real “Star Power” today to its efforts to get the state’s citizens on the path to active living and healthier lifestyles by announcing a trio of “Honorary Chairs” who will lend their support and voices to the drive.

New Jersey Health and Senior Services Commissioner Fred Jacobs, M.D. J.D. Personnel Commissioner Rolando Torres, Jr. joined New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute President & CEO David L. Knowlton at a State House press conference to announce that New York Times best selling author and Oprah Winfrey “Doctor in Residence” Dr. Mehmet Oz and former Governor James Florio and former First Lady Lucinda Florio have agreed to serve as “Honorary Chairs” of the Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC).

“Words simply cannot express how thrilled we are to have Dr. Oz and Governor and Mrs. Florio consent to chair the Mayors Wellness Campaign and to act as its spokespersons,” said Mr. Knowlton.  “Their participation will take us to a new level and help get the word out that local leadership CAN make a difference in our fight against what may very well be the number one health crisis facing the current generation of Americans – obesity.”

The Mayors Wellness Campaign 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.

"Obesity rates and the resulting incidences of diabetes, heart disease and hypertension are rising at alarming rates for New Jerseyans, but this trend could be reversed with changes to diet and exercise regimens," said Commissioner Jacobs.  "I am pleased to join the Mayor's Wellness Campaign in welcoming this outstanding leadership team which has lent its support to this important health initiative.”

“We have been working very hard at the state level to improve the health of our employees,” said Commissioner Torres, who has championed the state’s “Working Well New Jersey” campaign which provides tools to both government employers and employees to promote healthier living.  “This new effort at the local level will make it easier for state workers and their families to lead active and healthy lifestyles in their own town.”

 ”The facts surrounding the obesity epidemic are both astounding and alarming,” said Dr. Oz. “One-third of all children born in the current decade will be diabetic.  We are mortgaging our nation’s future if we do not immediately begin to address the health issues facing our youth.”

A world renowned cardiologist, who serves as Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University, Dr. Oz directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital.  He points out that “I am now operating on 25-year-olds who have heart disease.” Dr. Oz added “You simply cannot have wealth without health and that is a critical lesson for our young people to learn.”

Author of the New York Times best sellers “You: The Owner’s Manual” and “You: The Smart Patient,” Dr. Oz also promotes “Health Corps,” a new way of thinking about healthy living. Similar in concept to Peace Corps, Health Corps selects volunteers who will be paid a stipend to educate children in schools across the nation on wellness awareness for a two-year period.  The effort was recently awarded a $250,000 grant by the City of New York.  Dr. Oz is a frequent guest on the Oprah Winfrey television show and is often referred to as its “Doctor in Residence.”

“It seems to me that the approach of the Mayors Wellness Campaign, which calls upon our local leaders to play a role in their own communities is the right one,” said former New Jersey Governor James Florio, who also serves on the board of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute.  “Mayors can make a real difference by providing both the example and resources necessary to put programs in place.”

Mr. Florio is founding partner of the law firm of Florio Perrucci Steinhardt and Fader, LLC based in Phillipsburg, NJ.  Mr. Florio is a University Professor for Public Policy and Administration at the Bloustein Graduate School of Public Policy at Rutgers University. He served as Governor of the State of New Jersey from 1990 through 1994.

“One of the main reasons we chose to make our home in Metuchen, New Jersey, following James’ retirement from public life was its ‘livability,’” said former First Lady Lucinda Florio.  “Metuchen is the kind of town where families, couples and individuals can walk, bicycle and job in safety.  We take advantage of that nearly every evening.”

As First Lady, Mrs. Florio was a champion of activities which promoted the physical and mental well being of young people.  A former school teacher, Mrs. Florio traveled the state as an advocate of programs which emphasized reading as a path to enhancing the education of children.

“Aetna is very excited to participate in this important public health program," said Marjorie Schulman, M.D., Senior Medical Director for Aetna. "Fighting obesity, and the threat it poses to health, quality of life and productivity, is a challenge we all must meet head-on." Aetna supported the Mayors Wellness Campaign with a founding grant in 2005 of $200,000 and has provided additional funding in 2006.

Aetna supported the Mayors Wellness Campaign with a founding grant in 2005 of $200,000 and has provided additional funding in 2006.

“Communities across our state have been challenged: don’t wait for the federal and state governments to take the lead. Take charge yourself!  The Mayors Wellness Campaign gives mayors and other local leaders the tools to do just that,” said William G. Dressel Jr., Executive Director, New Jersey State League of Municipalities

Mr. Dressel pointed out that the 2004 Institute of Medicine report which awakened the nation to the steps which needed to be taken to combat childhood obesity concluded that ‘mobilizing communities to address childhood obesity … will require concerted efforts by many partners.” He added, “The Mayors Wellness Campaign is a good-faith effort to put such a partnership together and has the wholehearted support of the League.”

The MWC is an initiative of the NJ Health Care Quality Institute in partnership with the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University.  A major founding grant was provided by Aetna with major funding provided by BeneCard Services, Inc. and additional funding from the NJ Department of Transportation and Johnson & Johnson.  The MWC was created in association with the Regional Plan Association, New Jersey State League of Municipalities and the Ramapo College Nursing Program, a joint degree program with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (UMDNJ).