Governor Carcieri also Presented with Gold “Well Workplace” Award from WELCOA for State Government Wellness Program

Governor Donald L. Carcieri today honored sixteen organizations from settings representing worksites, education, community, healthcare, government, and the restaurant industry at an awards ceremony in the State Room to recognize creative and effective wellness programs and policies.

The Governor’s Awards for Wellness Innovation were given to eight organizations from six award categories, including:

Worksites with less than 500 employees: Taco Inc. Worksites with more than 500 employees: Gilbane Inc. Schools: Newport Public Schools Healthcare Organizations: The Providence Center Community or Faith-Based Organizations: Coventry Housing Authority State Agencies: Rhode Island Department of Health and Rhode Island Department Of Elementary & Secondary Education Restaurants or Food Service Establishments: Pinelli Marra Restaurant Group

“The programs honored today represent some truly creative and resourceful efforts to encourage healthy lifestyles. We are seeing an increasing number of organizations offering programs to Rhode Islanders of all ages and from all walks of life, and that is a very encouraging trend,” said Governor Donald L. Carcieri.

Eight other organizations received Governor's citations recognizing distinguished achievement in wellness programming, including Beacon Mutual Insurance Company, Amica Mutual Insurance Company, Central Falls School Department, Joseph Jenks Junior High School, South County Hospital Healthcare System, Chad Brown Health Center, the Rhode Island Department of Administration, and Gregg's Restaurants.

This is the third year of the awards program, which is a component of Governor Carcieri’s Wellness Initiative. The initiative seeks to encourage public and private sector efforts to promote healthy lifestyles for all Rhode Islanders, and cut in half the number of Rhode Islanders with unhealthy and unsafe habits. Wellness programs raise awareness, educate and offer programming to highlight the importance of good nutrition, adequate exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, using seat belts, and avoiding tobacco.

Organizations eligible to apply for an award included:

• Worksites
• Schools
• Healthcare organizations
• City or town governments
• Community-based and faith-based organizations
• Organized labor
• State agencies
• Media organizations
• Restaurants and Food Service Establishments

Awards recognize programs and policies that address one or more of the following wellness areas: tobacco control, seatbelt use, healthy weight, physical activity, or nutrition/healthy eating.

Descriptions of winning programs will be publicized to allow other organizations to learn about the kinds of creative or innovative ideas and programs that are working successfully in a variety of settings throughout our state. Profiles of winning programs will be posted at www.health.ri.gov/wellnessaward/.

Governor Carcieri was also presented with an award today by Department of Administration Director Gary Sasse. The Department of Administration was recently informed that Rhode Island state government has earned a Gold “Well Workplace Award” from the Wellness Councils of America (WELCOA) for its “Get Fit RI” program. The State was previously recognized as a “Well Workplace” with a silver award in 2006.

“I am proud that our state is recognized as a leader in wellness, but there is more to be done,” the Governor continued. “We must all work together to promote preventive health care and wellness programming for all Rhode Islanders. It is critical for our citizens’ quality of life, and to control the high costs of health care.”

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