U-M earns American Heart Association Awards for being ‘Fit-Friendly’

The American Heart Association recognized the University of Michigan with two Start Fit Friendly Companies Awards. A Gold level award and a Workplace Innovation Award were presented to LaVaughn Palma-Davis, senior director, University Health and Well-Being Services, at an awards dinner on May 22, 2008.

Palma-Davis had this to say about receiving the awards, “In 2005, Mary Sue Coleman shared a vision of making the University of Michigan a model community of health. These awards recognize our progress toward making her vision a reality.”

The first award, the Start! Fit-Friendly Gold Award, recognizes employers that champion the health of their employees and work to create a culture of physical activity in the workplace. To be considered for a Gold Award, an organization must implement at least six activities in the area of “Physical Activity”, at least two ‘Nutrition” activities and at least one “Culture” activity.

The University of Michigan won the Gold award for its Health System Employee Wellness Program and the University-wide Michigan Healthy Community initiative with programs including: ActiveU physical activity for life, Good Choice healthy eating program, Ergonomics Awareness program and leadership and community engagement activities. The University of Michigan implemented five or more activities in each of the areas considered by the Fit Friendly award.

The second award, The Workplace Fitness Innovation Award, is given to a worksite/company that achieves all criteria for Gold recognition, plus demonstrates the development and implementation of innovative and effective efforts that promote physical activity specifically in the workplace.

According to Ryan Davis, the American Hear Association’s corporate development director for Washtenaw County, “The Innovation Awards were exceptionally difficult to achieve. Out of 58 applications nationally, only 21 were successful. The national volunteer advisory panel was looking for very unique, creative, never-before-done programs to recognize, and I am so proud that the University of Michigan was recognized with this.”

The University of Michigan received this award for ActiveU, an eight-week physical activity challenge and charity fund raiser. Designed to allow equal opportunity for success for all members of the university’s diverse population, ActiveU let participants set their own goals and track weekly activity in an online tracker. Any type of physical activity qualified, from walking, jogging, dancing, doing yoga or logging miles in a wheel chair. Winners are selected by average percent of goal achieved, leveling the playing field between the marathon runners and those just starting to exercise. Participants also have the option of making a voluntary donation to a charity fundraiser. At the end of the program, the money is given to charities chosen by the winners. More than $50,000 has been raised for charity in the first two years that the program has run.