Denver, CO – The Governor’s Council for Active and Healthy Lifestyles will partner on two new awards in 2015: The Governor’s Award for School Health and Wellness and the Governor’s Award for Worksite Wellness.
“The Colorado Governor’s Council for Active and Healthy Lifestyles is very proud to be partnering with Health Links Colorado and the Colorado Education Initiative to recognize employers and schools who are leaders in health and wellness in Colorado,” Clayton Ellis, President of the Governor’s Council for Active and Healthy Lifestyles. “With these fantastic opportunities, we can empower schools and employers to offer healthy working and learning environments throughout our great state.”
Founded in 1975, the bipartisan Council is made up of governor-appointed members and numerous affiliated volunteers, who promote active and healthy lifestyles statewide. The Council is dedicated to making Colorado the healthiest state in the nation.
The Governor’s Award for Worksite Wellness will be presented at the Colorado Culture of Health Conference on April 9, 2015. The award winner will be nominated by Health Links Colorado, a nonprofit initiative at the Colorado School of Public Health, which assists employers with worksite wellness development and certifies businesses that champion worker well being and safety.
“Certification of healthy and safe workplaces by Health Links Colorado(TM) has become the statewide benchmark for Colorado companies to show that they are committed to the well being of their employees,” said Health Links Colorado Director Liliana Tenney, MPH. “We are delighted that the Governor’s Council will be recognizing the outstanding efforts being made in the Colorado business community to bring wellness to work.”
The Governor’s Award for School Health and Wellness will be presented at The Colorado Education Initiative’s 7th Annual Summit and Luncheon on April 24, 2015 and will honor a school that demonstrates excellence and quality in their efforts to support staff and student health and wellness. In association with many school health partners, The Colorado Education Initiative assesses and monitors health and wellness progress in Colorado schools through the Healthy School Champions Recognition Program and awards over $42,500 to numerous schools across the state.
The council relies on partnerships with organizations such as the Colorado Education Initiative and the Colorado Business Group on Health, which presents the Culture of Health Conference to raise awareness about the importance of an active and healthy lifestyle for all Coloradans.
“The Governor’s Council has done an excellent job at promoting wellness among schools and worksites around Colorado. We’re thrilled to partner with them to promote a culture of health in our state,” said Donna Marshall, Colorado Business Group on Health Executive Director.
Employers (private, public, non-profit and government) interested in becoming a Certified Healthy Business can complete an application at Health Links Colorado (www.healthlinkscolorado.org). Applications received by March 2, 2015 will be considered for the 2015 Governor’s Award for Worksite Wellness.
Colorado schools can learn more about the Healthy Schools Champions Recognition Program at The Colorado Education Initiative (www.coloradoedinitiative.org or http://www.healthyschoolchampions.org)