In support of its ongoing work to reduce childhood obesity in the United States, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation recently announced a two-year $7.8 million grant for YMCA of USA. This new round of funding adds to a $6.8 million grant the foundation originally awarded the Y in 2009. The funding helped the organization to develop the Statewide Pioneering Healthier Communities (PHC) program with the goal of reducing childhood obesity across the nation by encouraging communities to get physically active and eat nutritious foods. 

This new grant allows the Y to expand the initiative, which is currently taking place in 32 communities across six states. It will now be able to widen the reach into another 14, including Wisconsin, Washington, Virginia, Vermont, Texas, South Carolina, Missouri, Minnesota, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, Indiana, Florida and California. 

"The Y is really good at energizing communities and empowering them to tackle comprehensive policy approaches," said John Govea, the senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "As we all strive to reverse childhood obesity by 2015, the Y's collaborative approach, which helps turn local innovations into statewide efforts, will be critical."

Through its PHC program, the Y is bringing fresh foods to communities that do not have access to fruits and vegetables, building safe walking paths for schoolchildren and offering afterschool programs to get kids involved in physical activity. 

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