COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER

Summer 2026

PARTING THOUGHTS from Pam Scott, Executive Director

As I look ahead to retiring from Partners for Health this Fall, I’ve been reflecting on my time at the Foundation and would like to share a few thoughts. It's been nearly 20 years since I embarked on the challenge of a lifetime: transitioning from serving as the Executive Director of Mountainside Hospital Foundation, which focused on fundraising, to leading Partners for Health, an independent grantmaking entity formed when Mountainside became a for-profit hospital in 2007. The first step was a year-long process to obtain Court approval to move forward with our new mission, which has since evolved to: Partnering to advance health equity through learning, grantmaking and advocating.

In the ensuing years, PFH has awarded more than $18 million in grants to the communities we serve. We have formed collaborations, convened community partners, co-presented social justice programs, and advocated for policy change that helps our communities and neighbors thrive.

None of us does this work alone, and this has certainly been true for me. I'm grateful for the support and camaraderie of the PFH team - Kathy Smith, Yeni Friesen and Kathy Fess, as well as the collective efforts of our Trustees - past and present - for their commitment and wisdom.

I also want to acknowledge our community partners who are the real heroes - navigating relentless pressure, with little margin for error, especially during the difficult times we find ourselves in. I admire your courage, resiliency, creativity, and most of all your passion for this difficult, challenging work.

It’s been a privilege to be part of the first chapter in the PFH story. I’m confident that the Foundation will continue to grow, while staying true to its values and meeting the needs of our community.

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Pam received a citation from State Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill in recognition of her outstanding, long-time service and leadership.

Partners for Health recently awarded 12 grants totaling $1,085,000 to invest in resources that create opportunities for residents to thrive and to strengthen our communities. 

• Clifton Health Department - To address health disparities, improve access to care and resources, and create healthier, more resilient communities (3-year general operating grant totaling $150,000).

• Garden State Equality - To advance health equity for LGBTQ+ communities
  (2-year project grant totaling $85,000).

• Monarch Housing Associates - Funding support for the Youth and Family Homelessness strategic plan (1-year project grant of $50,000).

• Meeting Essential Needs with Dignity (MEND) - Funding to support MEND’s role as the backbone organization for the Food & Health Equity Coalition of Essex County (FHEC), a cross-sector of 90+ organizations that work collaboratively to alleviate food insecurity (1-year general operating grant of $40,000).

• Montclair Community Farms - An urban agriculture initiative that promotes sustainable farming, expands food access, and fosters community wellness 
  (3-year general operating grant of $115,000).

• Neighbor to Neighbor Network - To connect at-risk residents in Bloomfield with services that promote housing stability and overall well-being (1-year project grant of $50,000).

• New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund - A grant for NJCAEF’s work to support economic security, healthcare access, and policy advocacy for working families in New Jersey (2-year general operating grant totaling $100,000).

• New Jersey Future - Funding to support the "Great Homes and Neighborhoods for All" initiative (1-year project grant of $30,000).

• New Jersey Healthy Communities Network - Funding to support a community grant program to improve health equity with a focus on maternal/caregiver health, mental wellness, active living, and food systems (2-year project grant totaling $55,000).

• Nutley Family Service Bureau - To provide affordable mental health care, support services, and basic needs assistance (3-year general operating grant totaling $240,000).

• Regional Plan Association (RPA) - A grant to support the "Fair Fares" Campaign, an effort led by RPA and the Fund NJ Transit Coalition (1-year project grant of $50,000).

• Table to Table - To rescue surplus healthy food, reduce food waste, and alleviate food insecurity (2-year general operating grant totaling $120,000).

The Foundation has grant cycles in the Spring and the Fall. Click the link below to learn about our funding guidelines.

THE SUM OF US

The community is invited to an Open Book/Open Mind author program featuring Heather McGhee discussing her landmark book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together. Heather's conversation partner will be Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow.

The program will be held on Tuesday, October 13 at the First Congregational Church in Montclair; doors open at 6:30 PM. Registration is required for this free event which is co-sponsored the Montclair Public Library and Partners for Health.

About Partners for Health

Partners for Health is a place-based organization working toward a vision of thriving communities. The Foundation invests in programs and policy changes that bridge the gaps in health disparities. Its strategies focus on providing resources to build capacity to overcome barriers so everyone can thrive.

The Foundation awards grants to eligible organizations that provide direct service in Montclair, New Jersey and surrounding communities, including 13 municipalities in Essex County, plus Clifton and Little Falls in Passaic County. It also funds statewide organizations that support local coalitions or advocate for statewide policy change to advance health equity and social justice.