Governor Hochul Announces Increased Support For Choose Healthy Life’s Black Health Initiative
Continued Commitment Builds Upon Proven Statewide Impact
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.
“Black churches are the cornerstone of our communities, providing trusted spaces for connection, support, and care,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “By continuing to invest in Choose Healthy Life, we are ensuring that these health services reach even more families across New York State. Your family is my fight, and I am proud to stand with CHL and United Way of New York City in this mission to create healthier, more equitable communities.”
A recording of Governor Hochul’s remarks is available here. Her office’s full press release can be found here.
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.
“Governor Hochul’s continued investment in Choose Healthy Life reflects a deep commitment to addressing the health challenges facing Black New Yorkers,” said Debra Fraser-Howze, Founder and Board Chair of Choose Healthy Life. “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.”
Since 2022, funding from the state to support Choose Healthy Life has come through UWNYC. In alignment with its mission to launch and support early-stage, high-impact community initiatives, UWNYC has shared with the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) that it intends to shift the contract directly to Choose Healthy Life, effective July 1, 2026.
“We are incredibly proud to have served as the implementation partner for Choose Healthy Life since its inception,” said Grace Bonilla, President and CEO of United Way of New York City. “United Way of New York City has a longstanding track record of incubating and scaling high-impact initiatives that meet pressing community needs. This partnership reflects what is possible when nonprofits, community-based organizations, and government work in true collaboration to drive innovation and address complex problems. It has been an honor to stand alongside Choose Healthy Life and Governor Hochul to ensure that New York families have dignified access to the care and support they deserve.”
CHL launched in January 2021 with United Way of New York City as its original implementation partner. After becoming an independent nonprofit in 2022, CHL assumed implementation responsibilities in Atlanta, Detroit, Newark, and Washington, D.C. in 2023, while UWNYC continued implementation in New York. The upcoming transition completes that planned progression.
“This funding commitment and transition mark a new chapter for Choose Healthy Life,” said Rev. Kimberly L. Williams, President & CEO of Choose Healthy Life. “Governor Hochul’s continued investment affirms the impact of this work, and our partnership with United Way of New York City laid the foundation for long-term sustainability. Together, we are strengthening the bridge between science and the trusted relationships of the Black church to deliver meaningful results across New York.”
“For generations, the Black church has been a trusted place of leadership, care, and refuge,” said Bishop Leah D. Daughtry, Co-Chair of the Choose Healthy Life Clergy Council. “With support from Governor Hochul and United Way of New York City, that trust continues to guide how health care reaches our communities. Choose Healthy Life is honored to build on that legacy.”
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About Choose Healthy Life
Choose Healthy Life (CHL) is a nonprofit organization improving health outcomes through the Black church by funding, establishing, and training a trusted faith-based Health Navigator workforce. Since its founding in 2021, CHL has hosted over 11,000 events, vaccinated, tested, and distributed self-test kits to over 350,000 individuals, and screened more than 35,000 for comprehensive health risks. For more information, visit choosehealthylife.org.
About United Way of New York City
For 88 years, United Way of New York City has worked with a coalition of trusted partners to unite community power with citywide possibility. We work at the intersection of government, private, and public partners to positively affect our communities, maximizing impact by coordinating and aligning service providers, companies, local government and New Yorkers to help people eliminate barriers and gain the agency to improve their lives for the better. We meet today’s most urgent needs while building transformative solutions for tomorrow - striving for health, opportunity, and prosperity for every New Yorker in every neighborhood. To learn more, visit unitedwaynyc.org
