(Utica, NY – May 1, 2013) More than 500 local women and men, many of them professionals with area businesses, packed a room at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro on Wednesday, May 1st to help raise more than $80,322 in the fight against heart disease and stroke. Today’s luncheon was sponsored nationally by Macy’s and Merck along with signature sponsor First Source Federal Credit Union and media sponsor New York SASH.
Among the faces in the crowd at the annual Go Red For Women Luncheon were five companies that entered teams of employees in the American Heart Association’s 2013 Go Red Corporate Challenge. The teams from First Source Federal Credit Union; AmeriCU Credit Union, Revere Copper, Inc.; The Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter; and Faxton St. Luke’s Healthcare spent eight weeks engaging in a workplace wellness challenge that culminated with the announcement of the results at the luncheon. These companies are role models in the Mohawk Valley for helping employees instill healthier lifestyles. While all of the teams saw improvements in their overall wellness, there were specific awards to recognize outstanding contributions to the battle against heart disease:
Company of the Year…………………………………. AmeriCU Credit Union
Heart Survivor Award…………………………………. Mary Jane Tottey, The Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter
Most Inspiring Individual…………………………….. Cindy Griswold, The Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter
Spirit Award ……………………………………………….. Peter Berowski, First Source Federal Credit Union
Most Improved Company…………………………… Revere Copper Products, Inc.
Company with the Highest Average Score… First Source Federal Credit Union
Life Changing Commitment Awards:
- Jackie Jordan, Revere Copper, Inc.
- Sylvia Pescatore, The Arc Oneida-Lewis Chapter
- Wendy Galler, Faxton-St. Luke’s Healthcare
- AmeriCU Credit Union
- First Source Federal Credit Union
The companies that competed in the Go Red Corporate Challenge hope their participation will encourage other businesses in the Mohawk Valley Region to follow suit and evaluate changes that can be made in the workplace to promote employee wellness. The rewards are obvious—enhanced quality of life for employees, reduced absenteeism, and increased productivity.
The American Heart Association also announced the winner of the Go Red Power Of You Award, sponsored by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. The award was presented to Brian Williams for his efforts to eat better and exercise more after discovering he has heart disease risk factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and elevated blood glucose.
The passion speaker at the luncheon, heart disease survivor Beth Boshart from Deerfield, shared her personal story with the crowd as well. Beth suffered a heart attack nearly one year ago after days of feeling like she had the flu or a virus. Beth now uses a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD, to help circulate blood through her body when her heart is too weak to do so. She says she wishes she had been able to recognize the signs of a heart attack more quickly. Now, Beth says she is on a mission to help prevent this from happening to others, and to educate people about LVADs, signs of heart disease in women, and the importance of taking time to smell the roses.
“Everything happens for a reason,” Beth says, “This is God’s next step in my life, for some reason. I don’t quite know what it is yet, but I’ll know it when I see it.”
As guests arrived they were welcomed by receiving a pedometer as a reminder of the importance of exercise for their health.
Before the luncheon got underway, attendees had the opportunity to attend a heart health fair to learn about stress management, cooking healthy, their personal risk of stroke and much more.
All luncheon guests had an opportunity to take a photograph that demonstrates a promise to love their heart and start living a healthier lifestyle. The photograph will later be e-mailed to the participants as a reminder of their promise.
A slide show played featuring area businesses showing their support to the Go Red cause.