The Robert Woods Johnson Foundation (RWJF) [1] is America’s largest philanthropy dedicated solely to health. The foundation is working to help achieve health equity and expand opportunity to pursue the best health possible, through investments in four broad areas: Healthy Communities, Healthy Kids Healthy Weight, Health Leadership and Health Systems [2]. To realise this, RWF’s activities include grant programmes that engage policymakers, business, leaders community groups and other stakeholders; research funding to build a strong evidence-base, and promoting a culture of health in America [3]. Thus from large cities to small towns, for example, RWJF is working to eliminate barriers to healthy choices, and help communities create or expand upon the types of systems that many of the healthiest places have in common. These efforts include: local policies that encourage healthy living, and make it easy to sustain a healthy lifestyle; services that connect people to quality health care, transportation, housing, child care, after-school activities, and other critical supports; access to educational and job opportunities that enable residents to support themselves and their families; networks of individuals within and across communities who appreciate the many factors which shape health—and want to make a difference [4]. |