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Wednesday, October 7, 2020

HANSY recognizes Jones Memorial Hospital with 2020 Community Health Imprvement Award

 

The HANYS 2020 Community Health Improvement Award went to Jones Memorial Hospital in recognition of the hospital’s efforts to promote health lifestyles by providing free, accessible trails that can be used for walking, hiking, and biking. The initiatives that earned Jones this award are funded by the proceeds from its two major community wellness activities: The RidgeWalk & Run and the GLOW 5K Run & Walk. Admiring the award are from left CEO Eva Benedict and Brenda Mong-Szabo, chair of the hospital’s wellness committee, RidgeWalk & Run Chair Jim Helms and Carrie Walker, chair of the GLOW 5K.

WELLSVILLE, NY (October 7, 2020) -- The Healthcare Association of New York State is pleased to announce that UR Medicine Jones Memorial Hospital is the winner of HANYS’ 2020 Community Health Improvement Award, in recognition of its outstanding “Promoting Healthy Lifestyles” program. 

“On behalf of the board of directors and our staff, I would like to say how honored Jones Memorial Hospital is for being recognized for our efforts to improve the health of our community, “said Eva Benedict, CEO at Jones Memorial. “Thanks also go to our community, without your support we would not have earned this recognition. The health and wellness of our community has been a part of the mission and vision at Jones Memorial Hospital for many years and it is so gratifying to have our efforts recognized.”

The hospital’s community wellness efforts went into high gear in 2014, according to Brenda Szabo, Vice President of Outpatient Services and Chair of the hospital’s Wellness Committee. “Allegany County has some of the highest obesity rates in the state,” she said. “When we noticed that there were no dedicated walking trails in the Village of Wellsville, it made sense to focus on ways to provide accessible, free, and easy to use trails to help families increase their physical activity, which would help prevent chronic disease.”

Outcomes of its winning initiative include:

           A “complete street” agreement, a transportation policy focused on safe roadway access for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists, signed with the local town and village of Wellsville;

           Completion of two bridges and opening of the renovated recreational WAG Trail, through a partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation;

           Completion of the River Walk extension project; and

           Approval of a $150,000 grant for Local Waterfront Revitalization for 10 communities along the Genesee River.

“It is important to note that all money raised at the successful RidgeWalk & Run and the GLOW 5k are put back into the community for the projects that have earned us this HANYS recognition,” said Mrs. Benedict. “We thank and appreciate our generous event sponsors, the countless volunteers who work tirelessly at and before these events, and – of course – the runners and walkers who participate in them. This award would not be possible without your dedication.”

The Community Health Improvement Award, established by HANYS in 1997, recognizes outstanding initiatives designed to improve the health and well-being of communities. The award is presented to facilities and programs that target specific community health issues, demonstrate leadership, collaborate among diverse groups and achieve quantifiable results. “We are thrilled to recognize the UR Medicine Jones Memorial Hospital team for this successful community initiative,” said HANYS President Bea Grause, RN, JD. “Their work shows you exactly how a hospital can positively impact an individual’s health beyond its four walls, whether they’re biking down a roadway or taking advantage of a trail.”

“From all of us at Jones Memorial, thank you HANYS for this recognition and thank you to our community for your continued support,” Mrs. Benedict said. “The health and wellness of those we serve has been a part of the mission and vision at Jones Memorial Hospital for many years and it is so gratifying to have our efforts recognized at the state level.”

Find out more: hanys.org or jones.urmc.edu.