Guest Column

By Laurie Goganzer
President and CEO
YMCA of the Jersey Shore & Ocean County YMCA

Every day at the Y, we see the life-changing impact of prevention. We see it when a senior lowers their blood pressure through healthier eating and regular exercise. We see it when an adult learns how to manage prediabetes before it becomes Type 2 diabetes. We see it when a cancer survivor regains strength and confidence after treatment.

These successes don’t happen by chance. They happen because communities like ours have access to evidence-based chronic disease prevention programs, many of which are made possible through federal funding.

Right now, that funding is at risk. The administration’s proposed Fiscal Year 2026 budget would eliminate $1.4 billion for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (NCCDPHP), along with critical funding for state and local health departments.

If adopted, these cuts would jeopardize programs that reach millions of Americans, including initiatives we run right here at Jersey Shore YMCAs. From blood pressure monitoring and diabetes prevention to cancer survivor support, the Y is a trusted partner in delivering interventions that meet people where they are, right in their own neighborhoods.

The truth is, chronic diseases are among the leading causes of death and disability in our nation. They account for the majority of our health care costs, yet much of this burden is preventable. Investing in prevention works. It saves lives, reduces costs, and builds stronger, healthier communities.

That’s why we’re speaking up. Along with YMCAs across the country, we’ve reached out to our federal leaders to urge them to protect this funding in the FY26 spending bill. Chronic disease prevention is not optional. It’s essential.

We call on our community to stand with us. Let’s make sure our voices are heard in Washington, so that people in the Jersey Shore region and across the country can continue to count on the resources, programs, and support they need to live their healthiest lives.

At the Y, we are here for good, and with your help, we can make sure chronic disease prevention is here for good, too.

Laurie Goganzer is president and CEO of the YMCA of the Jersey Shore and the Ocean County YMCA, which together deliver youth development, healthy living, and social service programs to nearly 60,000 people in central New Jersey communities. Learn more about their chronic disease prevention programs at www.ymcanj.org.