Today, Cambia CEO Mark Ganz and Cambia Health Foundation President Peggy Maguire joined Governor John Kitzhaber and nearly 400 leaders from Oregon businesses, nonprofits and public agencies to launch Oregon Healthiest State.
Oregon Healthiest State is a cross-sector effort to collectively take on Oregon’s most pressing statewide health issues and make healthy choices abundant in every community — especially those experiencing the greatest health disparities.
Maguire announced that Cambia Health Foundation will help secure $3.5 million for 2015 with a challenge grant to jumpstart the project and inspire others. Cambia Health Foundation has pledged to match $2 for every $1 donated up to a maximum contribution of $3.5 million; New Seasons Market became the first business to contribute under the challenge.
In opening remarks at today’s event Governor Kitzhaber talked about a friendly challenge between Oregon and the state of Iowa to become the healthiest state in the country. "In the Gallup Healthways Index, Oregon ranks number 25, right in the middle of the pack, in terms of physical health, mental health, sense of purpose and connection to community. But that's not good enough. We can do better,” said Kitzhaber. “We accept Iowa's challenge, and we intend to win! In doing so, we will improve the health of everyone in the state, address disparities, and help every individual in Oregon become as healthy as they can be."
Watch the video about Oregon and Iowa’s race to become the healthiest state.
At the event, Cambia showed a video asking Oregonians around the state what health means to them and how they think we could achieve our goal of becoming the Healthiest State. Watch the video on perspectives on Oregon’s health.
"It's this sense of community and possibilities for the future that captured our imagination and inspired us to become involved in this effort over a year ago," Ganz told the audience. "We all need to put as much energy into helping people stay well as we do to treating them when they're sick, and none of us can do this alone."
Oregon Healthiest State is a cross-sector partnership first envisioned a year ago by Cambia Health Solutions, Nike, Oregon Health & Science University and Oregon Business Council, with the full support of Gov. John Kitzhaber. Since then, Oregon Healthiest State has hired staff; begun filling the Steering Committee, Leadership Council and workgroups that will drive the effort; and signed on a growing set of additional partners including Elemental Technologies, Erickson Incorporated, Medford Fabrication, Oregon State University, PacificSource Health Plans, Stoel Rives LLP and University of Portland.
