FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, November 13, 2006

Trisha Rayner Recognized with Collaborative’s Volunteer Leadership Award

The Health Improvement Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati has named Trisha Rayner, director of program development at the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, as a recipient of one of the Collaborative’s 2006 Volunteer Leadership Awards.

The award is given annually to individuals who have donated significant time and energy to furthering the Collaborative mission. Rayner received the honor at the Collaborative’s fourth annual award dinner on Thursday, November 2 at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati downtown.

As a participant in the Collaborative’s diabetes forum earlier this year and a board member for America On the Move (AOM) in Ohio, Rayner represents the YMCA in several ongoing joint projects with AOM in Ohio, including recent “Steptember” events co-presented by AOM and the YMCA during America On the Move month in September. In addition, she has rallied volunteers for On the Move events, and even helped to staff the events herself. Furthermore, she has initiated the On the Move program at local YMCAs and their affiliated after-school programs.

Prior to her position with the YMCA, Rayner spent four years as the Curriculum Development and Evaluation Manager for the Center for Domestic Preparedness with the Department of Homeland Security in Anniston, Alabama. While at the Center, she worked closely with the Urban Area Security Initiative State grant program and helped create the National Awareness Level Training Course developed for first responders in the United States. In addition, for seven years Rayner was an extension educator with The Ohio State University.

Rayner holds a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and a master’s degree in Public Policy and Management from The Ohio State University. She and her husband, Rod, reside in Union, Kentucky with their daughter and son.