Governor Hochul Announces Increased Support For Choose Healthy Life’s Black Health Initiative

Governor Kathy Hochul today joined Choose Healthy Life (CHL), a national nonprofit improving health outcomes in underserved communities through the Black church, and United Way of New York City (UWNYC) at the Choose Healthy Life Albany Summit to announce her increased commitment to CHL. The Governor’s continued investment in Choose Healthy Life has grown consistently since her initial $3.38 million funding commitment in FY2023, reflecting increasing confidence in the program’s impact on improving health outcomes for Black New Yorkers.

Since 2022, CHL through its network of 30 Black churches across the state and in partnership with UWNYC have engaged more than 200,000 New Yorkers, hosted more than 3,500 community wellness events, and provided over 20,000 individuals with comprehensive health screenings, vaccinations and preventative health services. Over 14,000 individuals have been screened for social determinants of health and referred to services. CHL’s work in New York is a true public-private partnership that features the Blueprint for Wellness, a comprehensive health screening that provides blood-based actionable test results. This service is provided at no charge by Quest Diagnostics.

Debra Fraser-Howze, Founder and Board Chair of Choose Healthy Life, said: “Through a unique public-private partnership with the State, Black churches, and Quest Diagnostics, we are able to deliver high-quality, no-cost health services directly into trusted community settings — expanding access, improving outcomes, and saving lives across New York.”