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WELCOA
Press Releases
Hobart, Indiana
Recognized
as Well City
OMAHA
(NE)-The city of Hobart, Indiana has been recognized as a Well City
by the Wellness Councils of America, located in Omaha NE. The objective
of Well City USA is to unite business communities as a whole in
developing and maintaining healthy workforces. Hobart is the fourth
such community to receive this distinction.
In
previous years, Jacksonville, FL (1995), Chattanooga, TN (1996),
and Omaha, NE (1997) have attained the award.
Evolving
out of the Well Workplace Awards Initiative, which awards individual
businesses for their commitment to worksite wellness, the Well City
USA project is intended to unite communities as a whole in developing
and maintaining healthy workforces.
One
of the program requirements is that 20% of a community's working
population be employed in either Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze
designated workplaces. Well City USA recipients must also strive
for broad-based community participation, involving both public and
private sector businesses. The community must form a coalition to
encourage worksite participation, secure funding to support a project
director, and commit to a three-year process in order to achieve
the project's goals.
Its
philosophy is to aid communities not only by creating a more healthy
and productive workforce, but also in acquiring a more competitive
edge in new business recruitment. Through its efforts, it also aims
to revitalize the current business atmosphere.
Hobart,
a city of 32,000 located in Lake County, realized a need for wellness
after a report issued by Professional Research Corporation showed
that Lake County ranked higher in death rates from cancer and heart
disease than did the state as a whole. This began a three-year quest,
spearheaded by Hobart Mayor Linda Buzinec and St. Mary Medical Center
CEO Milt Triana, to improve the health of the city of Hobart, and
ultimately become a Well City.
The
initiative, guided by A.C. Costello, relied on the leadership of
the Wellness Councils of America, and the willingness of Hobart's
workforce, much of which is public sector, to change. And, over
the past three years the project has been generally well received.
But
this wasn't always the case. Says Patrick Midkiff, Vice President
of City and Business Development at St. Mary Medical Center, "At
first, some smaller businesses were resistant to come on board.
They thought that corporate wellness was expensive and only for
big business."
But
all that has changed over the last three years. Hobart will now
receive the coveted Well City Award with nine other cities waiting
in the wings. The award not only demonstrates the ability of a city
to come together but instills a sense of pride in its residents.
Says Midkiff, "The award has given the city of Hobart a sense
of pride; not only is it an elite distinction, but it also shows
that a city our size is able to tackle serious health issues among
our population-and win."
The
award will be presented at 12pm on October 5 at The Avalon Manor
in Hobart, IN.
Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger of Notre Dame fame is the keynote
speaker. Activities will begin at 9am.
Contacts:
Patrick Midkiff
S. Mary Medical Center
219-947-6980
Bo Abresch
Wellness Councils of America
Phone: (402) 827-3590
Fax: (402) 827-3594
Email: babresch@welcoa.org
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