irst Lady Tammy Murphy hosted over 3,500 families at the Elizabeth Family Festival on May 4 in a continuation of her successful series of festivals that have taken place throughout the state to support New Jersey’s women, children, and families.

Families who attended the festival at the Thomas G. Dunn Sports Center were granted access to speak with representatives of approximately 100 different organizations and government departments who provided information and services in areas such as healthcare, childcare, housing, food, and legal assistance among many other important and essential resources. The event also offered music, food, and games in which attending children could participate.

Launched by First Lady Tammy Murphy in 2018, Nurture NJ is a statewide program committed to reducing the maternal and infant mortality crisis in New Jersey and ensuring equitable care among women and infants of all races and ethnicities. The Elizabeth event was the 20th festival held throughout the state. According to First Lady Murphy’s team, Elizabeth had the largest attended family festival out of all that have taken place.

“As we reach the milestone of our 20th Nurture NJ Family Festival hosted statewide, I am so proud of the work we have achieved together in just over six years,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “Thanks to our many dedicated partners, many of whom have been with us since our first festival in 2018, thousands of New Jersey families have been able to access services and resources necessary to house, feed, nurture and otherwise support their children in the most essential ways.”

“Bringing these resources directly into the communities most in need is one of the most commonsense ways we can support our families and improve maternal and infant health. I look forward to continuing to host these festivals across our state as we simultaneously implement a wide variety of innovative initiatives and elevate New Jersey’s quality of maternal and infant health care for all mothers and babies. Our work does not stop until New Jersey is the gold standard for maternal and infant health care and the safest and most equitable state in the nation to deliver and raise a baby,” continued the First Lady.

The Elizabeth Family Festival was developed in partnership with the Office of First Lady Tammy Murphy, Nurture NJ, Congressman Rob Menendez, Senator Joe Cryan, Assemblywoman Annette Quijano, Assemblyman Reginald W. Atkins, Union County, Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, United Way of Greater Union County, The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, Elizabeth Public Schools and the Elizabeth Board of Education, Make the Road New Jersey, RWJBarnabas Health and Trinitas Regional Medical Center, The Burke Foundation, Jersey Mike’s, and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey.