about us

About Activate Chester County

Activate Chester County is led by a Steering Committee made up of organizations and community leaders who care about youth and adult health. The steering Committee oversees local Activate Chester County community groups in Kennett Square, Jennersville, Coatesville, West Chester, Paoli and Phoenixville. The local community groups host healthy events, advocate for healthy environments in their communities, and support their school districts' wellness councils. The community groups are eager for local residents to join their cause. Send an e-mail to the contact at the bottom of the page to get involved!

Activate Chester County Steering Committee

Leadership Team:
Chair - Terry Kenworthy, Manager of Agency Relations, United Way of Chester County
Co-Chair - Brad Zerr, Director of Community Health Services, Paoli Hospital

Our Current Initiatives

Activate Chester County Community Groups are active in communities throughout our area hosting events and initiatives that help children and adults improve their healthy by moving more, eating smart and creating a supportive environment. Some examples of our initiatives include:

Strengthening school-based wellness programs
Implementing wellness programs in area businesses
Advocating for sidewalks and trails
Helping to organize community walks and other community health events

Responding to Our Nation's Health Crisis

Throughout the United States, the number of adults and children classified as overweight or obese has tripled, largely due to inactivity and poor nutrition choices. These unhealthy lifestyle habits can also contribute to illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. As a result, health care costs have increased to $300 billion a year. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that unless our citizens act to correct this crisis, society will be unable to withstand the human and economic toll.

According to the 2009 Behavioral Health Risks of Chester County, conducted by the Chester County Health Department, 56% of adults reported they were overweight or obese and 19% reported they were obese.

The good news is that obesity-related diseases are preventable when individuals adopt a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and proper nutrition, along with participation in wellness education and disease screenings.

About Activate America

Activate America is the inspiration for Activate Chester County. Activate America is a nationwide movement initiated by the YMCA of the USA in response to the country’s growing obesity crisis. Because no one organization can solve an issue of this magnitude alone, the YMCA has joined forces with national and local organizations committed to advancing community health.

Get Involved

For more information about supporting Activate Chester County, please contact Terry Kenworthy at 610-429-9400, ext. 4112 or terry.kenworthy@unitedwaychestercounty.org.