James M. Cox Foundation and Jim Kennedy Donate $2.5 Million to Build Fitness Center for Emory St. Joseph's Staff

ATLANTA, Jan. 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The James M. Cox Foundation and Jim Kennedy made a combined $2.5 million gift for the construction of the James C. Kennedy Fitness Center at Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital. The hospital's physicians, nurses and staff will have complimentary, 24-7 access to the state-of-the-art fitness facility.

The 5,400 square foot Kennedy Fitness Center is being constructed on the St. Joseph's campus to provide convenient access for all hospital staff members.  The Center will include cardio and strength machines, a yoga/mindfulness area and other programs that promote healthy living for the 3,000 employees of St. Joseph's and its neighboring medical facilities. The fitness center is expected to be operational by summer 2017.

"When I was undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, my doctors at Emory St. Joseph's encouraged me to exercise regularly," said Kennedy. "When I asked about their exercise routines, I was surprised to hear that they had a hard time following their own advice due to a lack of time and proximity to a gym. Through this donation, a new, conveniently located fitness facility will help hospital staff take care of their own health. Exercise is important for everyone, especially healthcare providers who have the important job of taking care of patients."

"We know that doctors and other medical providers have profoundly stressful and time-consuming jobs, and often don't make the time necessary for their own wellness," says Jonathan S. Lewin, MD, President, CEO, and Chairman of the Board for Emory Healthcare. "The Kennedy Fitness Center will help our caregivers so they can fulfill the Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center of Emory University's mission 'to serve humanity by improving health through integration of education, discovery and health care.'"

"This facility will help our staff safeguard their own health, so they can continue caring for our patients," says Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital CEO Heather Dexter.

About Emory University's Woodruff Health Sciences Center
Emory University's Robert W. Woodruff Health Sciences Center is an academic health center focused on teaching, research, and patient care. It includes Emory University School of Medicine, Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Rollins School of Public Health, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Winship Cancer Institute, and Emory Healthcare, the most comprehensive health system in Georgia. The Health Sciences Center is a nonprofit institution with 23,400 employees, 2,890 full-time and 1,280 affiliated faculty, and 5,250 students and trainees.

About The James M. Cox Foundation
The James M. Cox Foundation is named in honor of Cox Enterprises' founder and provides funding for capital campaigns and special projects in communities where the company operates. James M. Cox was Ohio's first three-term governor and the 1920 Democratic nominee for president of the United States. The Foundation concentrates its community support in several areas, including: conservation and environment; early childhood education; empowering families and individuals for success; and health.

SOURCE Cox Enterprises