Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders
An RWJF National Program
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiated the Robert Wood Johnson Community Health Leaders in 1991 to recognize individuals' contributions to improving health and health care in their communities. The award program is ongoing.
Through $125,000 recognition awards, Community Health Leaders annually honors 10 unsung and unusually resourceful people working in communities across the country to improve health and access to care for underserved and often disenfranchised populations. The award is composed of $105,000 to be used at the leader's discretion for his or her project and $20,000 to the leader for personal development.
The outreach effort to find grassroots candidates is a crucial element of the award program. It includes selected mailing lists, site visits to target areas and networking. The Community Health Leaders national advisory committee continues to refine the outreach process.
RWJF announces the new leaders at an annual dinner and reception where they are introduced to the public and a visual presentation of their work is made. All leaders are invited to participate in the annual meeting.
Enhancing both local and national recognition of the leaders and their work has been an important element of the award from its inception.