FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Transcription

1 news release For more information, call: Ann Wright, Arkansas Department of Health, Joyce Williams, Arkansas Department of Human Services, Kristy Fleming, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Blue & You Fitness Challenge gives Fitness a POW! 75,100 nationwide could join 2011 competition LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (Feb. 17, 2011) Representatives from more than 200 companies and groups throughout Arkansas and the nation gathered today to give Fitness a Pow! at the kickoff of the 2011 Blue & You Fitness Challenge held at the Statehouse Convention Center. Groups and individuals pledging to get super fit was the theme of the kickoff as companies and groups made their commitment to go from ordinary to extraordinary as they exercise 30, 60 or 92 checkpoints and advance virtually across America. The exercise competition has grown from two entities in 2004 to more than 250 groups with more than 75,000 potential employees/individuals competing in The Blue & You Fitness Challenge begins March 1 and runs through May 31 and is hosted by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas Department of Human Services. The Challenge encourages employees to work toward the public health recommendation of 30 minutes of physical activity each day for adults, most days of the week. Exercise requires a little effort and commitment, but promises potentially extraordinary results in fitness levels. Thousands of Americans are making a move toward better health by participating in the Challenge this year, said Richard Cooper, vice president of Human Resources for Arkansas Blue Cross and team champion for the Challenge. (more)

2 Blue & You Fitness Challenge 2011 Kicks Off, Page 2 During the contest, participants engage in eligible cardiovascular-oriented exercises to work their way through at least 30 virtual checkpoints across America during the three-month contest, although 92 checkpoints (the number of total days of the contest) are on the virtual map. Participants exercise through all state capitals, many national parks and some interesting places in between. Blue & You Fitness Challenge participants register and log their exercise online at BlueAndYouFitnessChallenge-ark.com. Participants are able to watch real-time data to see how their stats compare to others in the competition. The winning entity is determined by the greatest employee/group participation and the highest scores in four categories. For the eighth year, the Arkansas Department of Human Services is happy to participate in this program that attracts more fitness-conscious people with every year it s held. At DHS, our more than 7,500 employees take care of our citizens across the state every day. However, we want them to take time to take care of themselves, too, and that s why the Blue & You Fitness Challenge is so important, said John Selig, director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services. It gives us a chance to promote healthy habits at work. Regular exercise is a good way to reduce stress, battle the sedentary nature that often comes from working at a desk each day and improve cardiovascular health. We are proud that this Arkansas-made program has put our state in the national spotlight for promoting worksite wellness. We believe programs like the Blue & You Fitness Challenge are a fun, motivational way to help people begin to change their lifestyles and improve their overall health, said Paul Halverson, PhDr,director of the Arkansas Department of Health and state health officer. Current research tells us that getting more physical activity means lower health care costs for individuals and families. A recent study by the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement shows that health care costs are 75 percent higher for those who are obese and physically inactive compared to those who are at a healthy weight and are physically active. In today s economy, this can mean a real difference in the quality of life for an Arkansas family. Less money spent on health care means more money for dad, mom and the kids to do the things we all enjoy. It makes good sense to exercise better health, and more change in our pockets. The Employee Fitness Contest Kit, a free guide to organizing an employee exercise competition, is available in notebook and/or CD format by calling toll free, , or by stopping by the nearest Arkansas Blue Cross regional office. The kit also may be downloaded in PDF format at the following Web sites: ArkansasBlueCross.com (select the Employers tab, then the kit logo) HealthAdvantage-hmo.com (select the Employers tab, then the kit logo) (more)

3 Blue & You Fitness Challenge 2011 Kicks Off, Page 3 BlueAdvantageArkansas.com (click on Employers tab, then the kit logo) Founded in 1948, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest health insurer in Arkansas. Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates have more than 2,700 employees. If combined, the 39 independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans collectively provide health care coverage for 93 million nearly one in three Americans. The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is a centralized health department, operating local health units in each of the state s 75 counties. County governments provide facilities and support for the clinical, environmental and home health services offered by the agency. The mission of the Department is to promote public health policies and practices that assure a healthy quality of life for Arkansans. ADH works to protect, improve and promote the health of all Arkansans with the support of more than 5,000 dedicated employees and public and private partners. During each year, Department employees monitor and investigate public health diseases and threats, provide preventive and personal health services in clinical and in-home settings, provide education and enforce laws and regulations, support Hometown Health Improvement, promote healthy behaviors, respond to public health emergencies and educate and monitor industries that impact the public s health. The Arkansas Department of Human Services provides a wide range of social services to more than a million Arkansas citizens each year through its programs and private providers. DHS is the largest department of the executive branch of state government. It has more than 7,000 employees and consists of 10 divisions and four support offices. DHS maintains offices in each of the state s 75 counties where a person can apply for all the services DHS offers. Services are provided to people from all walks of life and all ages. Major programs, which fall under the Arkansas Department of Human Services, include the federal Food Stamp program and the Medicaid program, which accounts for the largest part of the department s $4 billion annual budget. 30

4 2011 Confirmed Participating Groups/Companies Group Name City State Administrative Office of The Courts Little Rock AR AETN Conway AR AFMC Little Rock AR AGFC Little Rock AR Alliance Insurance Grp Arkadelphia AR Alliance Rubber Company Hot Springs AR Allied Therapy Ward AR Alma 7th grade chearleaders Alma AR Alma Intermediate School Alma AR Alma Middle School Students Alma AR Alpha Class Texarkana TX Amfuel Magnolia AR Annie Camp Junior High School Jonesboro AR Aon Risk Services Southwest, Inc. Little Rock AR AR Department of Human Services Perryville AR AR Regional Organ Recovery Agency Little Rock AR Architectural Concepts Jonesboro AR Area Health Education Center - FS Fort Smith AR ARGCO Fort smith AR Ark. Dept. of Information Systems Little Rock AR Arkansas Best Federal Credit Union Fort Smith AR Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Little Rock AR Arkansas Building Authority Little Rock AR Arkansas Cardiology Little Rock AR Arkansas Children s Hospital Little Rock AR Arkansas County Partners In Health Stuttgart AR Arkansas Department of Health Little Rock AR Arkansas Dept. of Parks And Tourism Little Rock AR Arkansas Diamonds Hot Springs Village AR Arkansas Education Association Little Rock AR Arkansas Methodist Medical Center Paragould AR Arkansas Pediatric Clinic Little Rock AR Arkansas Public Service Commission Little Rock AR Arkansas Real Estate Commission Little Rock AR Arkansas Securities Department Little Rock AR Arkansas State Plant Board Little Rock AR Arkansas State University Jonesboro AR Arkansas State University - Beebe Beebe AR

5 Arkansas State University-Newport Newport AR Arkansas Supreme Court Little Rock AR Arkansas Tech University Russellville AR ArkBoard of Public Accountancy Little Rock AR Ark-La-Tex Health Network Texarkana TX Arquest Camden AR ASU - Mountain Home Mountain Home AR Atlanta ISD Atlanta TX Ayrshire Electronics LLC Fayetteville AR B & F Engineering Hot Springs AR BancorpSouth Insurance Services Jonesboro AR Bank of Salem Salem AR Baptist Health Little Rock AR Baxter Regional Medical Center Mountain Home AR Bayou Meto Elementary School Jacksonville AR Beall Barclay Fort Smith AR Bekaert Steel (Gaucho Dept) Van Buren AR Ben E. Keith North Little Rock AR Bost, Inc. Fort Smith AR Boys & Girls Club of Alma Alma AR Bradley County Medical Center Warren AR Brown & Brown Insurance of Arkansas Springdale AR Buffalo National River Harrison AR Cabot Middle School North Cabot AR Carl Albert Wonders Mid West City OK Central Arkansas Water Little Rock AR Central Jr. High School Springdale AR Cheer X-Treme Fort Smith AR Chi Eta Omega - Alpha Kappa Alpha Little Rock AR Christ the King School Little Rock AR CHRISTUS Health Texarkana AR Citizens Bank Batesville AR City of Jonesboro Jonesboro AR City of Mountain Home Mountain Home AR City of North Little Rock North Little Rock AR City of Springdale Springdale AR City of Texarkana, AR Texarkana AR City of Texarkana, Texas Texarkana TX City Water and Light Jonesboro AR CityYouth Ministries Inc. Jonesboro AR CLARK COUNTY Arkadelphia AR Clarksville Medical Group Clarksville AR Cleveland County Oil Company Inc Rison AR CMI Little Rock AR Coldstream Fisheries Paragould AR Collom & Carney Clinic Association Texarkana TX Colson Caster Corporation Jonesboro AR COMMERCIAL NATIONAL BANK Texarkana AR Construction Network Jonesboro AR CRITTENDEN COUNTY Marion AR

6 Daines Insurance Texarkana TX Dallas County Medical Center Fordyce AR Dan s Health Club (Hytrol Con.) Jonesboro AR Datacom Solutions Hardy AR Delta AHEC Helena- West Helena AR Diamond Bank Hot Springs AR Diamond Bank - Nashville Nashville AR Diamond State Insurance - Nashville Nashville AR Dillard s FS Fitness Grp. Ft. Smith AR Dorel Team Home Furnishings Bentonville AR EagleOne Fort Smith AR East End School District Bigelow AR Elkins Public Library Elkins AR Eureka Springs Public Schools Eureka Springs AR Evergreen Packaging Pine Bluff AR Express Personnel Services Texarkana AR Family Wake Village TX Family Medicine Clinic PA Hot Springs AR Farmers and Merchants Bank Stuttgart AR Fatcity Steak and Grill House Jonesboro AR Fikes Hope AR First Baptist Church Prairie Grove AR First National Bank- Hot Springs Hot Springs AR First National Bank of Wynne Wynne AR First Step Schools, Inc Hot Springs AR Fort Smith Radiation Oncology Fort Smith AR Fort Smith Rotary Club Fort Smith AR Ft.Lake Hot Springs AR Garland County Employees Hot Springs AR Garland County Project H.O.P.E. Hot Springs AR Grant Cnty Hometown Health Coalition Sheridan AR Green Forest School Green Forest AR Hamrick Community Group Fayetteville AR Harrisburg Middle Hornet X-treme Harrisburg AR Hartford School District Hartford AR Hays Wynne AR Hays Store, Inc. Blytheville AR Henderson Fitness Reddies Arkadelphia AR Henderson L.O.V.E. After-school Little Rock AR Highland High School Hardy AR Hilltop Travel Center Alma AR Howard Perrin Elementary Benton AR Independence Blue Cross Philadelphia PA Independent Living, Inc. Harrison AR Individual Registrant Information Jefferson County Pine Bluff AR Jefferson Regional Medical Center Pine Bluff AR Jeff s Crew Alexander AR JK North America, Inc. Jonesboro AR Jonesboro Fire Department Jonesboro AR

7 Jonesboro Regional Chamber Jonesboro AR K & K Veterinary Supply, Inc. Tontitown AR Kerusso Berryville AR Kimberly Clark Corporation Conway AR Kimmons Junior High PE4life Fort Smith AR Kimmons Junior High Staff Fort Smith AR Knights of Columbus #996 Fort Smith AR LaCroix Optical Co. Batesville AR Lamar Elementary School Lamar AR Lamar High School Lamar AR Lamar Middle School Lamar AR Lamar Nutrition and Wellness 1 Lamar AR Lamar Parental Involvement Team Lamar AR Liberty Bank of Arkansas Siloam Springs AR LifeNet, Inc. Texarkana TX Little Rock Central High School Little Rock AR Little Rock School District Little Rock AR Mainstream Technologies, Inc. Little Rock AR Margaret Daniel Primary School Ashdown AR Medic One Jonesboro AR Merchants & Planters Bank Newport AR Methodist Nursing Home Fort Smith AR Millieplunkett Rison AR MIS Pups Morrilton AR Mitchell Williams Law Firm Little Rock AR Mountain Valley Spring Hot Springs Village AR Mountainburg Schools Mountainburg AR MSI West Little Rock Little Rock AR Munchys Jonesboro AR Murphy Oil Corporation El Dorado AR Natural Resources Consv. Serv. Little Rock AR NEA Baptist Clinic Wellness Center Jonesboro AR North Little Rock School District North Little Rock AR Northrop Grumman CEO Saint Charles MO Northside High School Fort Smtih AR NorthWest AR Community College Bentonville AR Nucor Yamato Steel Blytheville AR Opportunities, Inc. Texarkana TX Optus, Inc. Jonesboro AR Owl Creek School Fayetteville AR Pace Industries, Inc. Fayetteville AR Paris Eagles Paris AR PGTELCO Prairie Grove AR Physicians Day Surgery Fort Smith AR Pine Bluff Jefferson County EOC Pine Bluff AR Poinsett Rice and Grain Jonesboro AR PRADCO Fort Smith AR Prince William Cty Park Authority Prince William VA Red River Credit Union Texarkana TX Regions Bank - Jonesboro Jonesboro AR

8 RFMMS Wellness Center Pine Bluff AR Roach Conveyors Trumann AR ROARK GROUP Rogers AR Saline Cnty Hometown Health Coalition Benton AR Sevier County De Queen AR SFLIC Hot Springs AR Shiloh Christian School Springdale AR Simmons First National Corporation Pine Bluff AR Sistercisers White Hall AR Smith s Ready Mix, Inc. Nashville AR Southsude Fbla Fort Smith AR Southwest Power Pool Little Rock AR Springdale Westwood Wolves Springdale AR St Bernards Medical Center Jonesboro AR Sugarfree/Flourfree Jonesboro AR Summit Bank Arkadelphia AR TASD - ABC Program Texarkana AR TASD - Administration Texarkana AR TASD - AHS Texarkana AR TASD - Athletics Texarkana AR TASD - CHMS Texarkana AR TASD - College Hill Texarkana AR TASD - Fairview Texarkana AR TASD - Kilpatrick Texarkana AR TASD - Maintenance Texarkana AR TASD - NHJH Texarkana AR TASD - TAVC Texarkana AR TASD - Trice Texarkana AR TASD - Union Texarkana AR TASD - Washington Texarkana AR TASD - WTD Texarkana AR Team Exhausted Oklahoma City OK Teleflora AR Paragould AR Texarkana Embroidery and Graphics Texarkana TX Texarkana ISD Texarkana TX The Bank of Fayetteville Fayetteville AR The Boomer Sooner s Fort Smith AR The Defender s Little Rock AR The First Tee of Fort Smith Fort Smith AR THE TEN WONDERS Clinton AR TOPS AR 570 El Dorado AR Total Medical Supply Texarkana TX Trane Arkansas Little Rock AR Transplace Lowell AR Transportation Security Admin. Little Rock AR Trinity Warriors Texarkana AR TRUMAN ARNOLD COMPANIES Texarkana TX UA Fort Smith Fort Smith AR UAMS AHEC Northeast Jonesboro AR UAMS AHEC Northwest Fayetteville AR

9 UAMS AHEC Pine Bluff Pine Bluff AR UAMS AHEC Southwest Texarkana AR UAMS-AHEC-North Central Batesville AR University of the Ozarks Clarksville AR PBCDF White Hall AR USA Truck Van Buren AR USAble Life Little Rock AR Valley View School District Jonesboro AR Vista Health Services - Fort Smith Barling AR W D Barry Texarkana TX W.P. Malone, Inc. Arkadelphia AR Walnut Hill Lewisville AR Walnut Valley Hot Springs AR Warrior Academy Warriors Little Rock AR Watson Chapel Jr. High FBLA Pine Bluff AR Weekend Warriors Fayetteville AR Western Ark Counseling & Guidance Fort Smith AR Wingate/Gartman Group Harrison AR Wynne Public Schools Wynne AR