Staff of Asbury Place Maryville Wins First Place in Blount BEneFITs’ “Ready, Set, Move” Awards
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For Information Contact:
Chuck Morris
Morris Creative Group LLC
865-637-9869
[email protected]
Tesa Brown
Asbury Place Maryville
[email protected]
865-984-1660
Asbury Place Maryville is the Business Level II overall winner, based on how many participants were involved in its campus-wide wellness program. The award will be given April 29, 2010 at the Blount County Library.
Asbury began to promote a healthier lifestyle for its employees in April 2008 with its smoking cessation program. It also promoted a smoke-free campus.
Based on the success of that initiative, Asbury continued the second phase of promoting overall wellness for its staff with a focus on fitness and healthy eating habits. Staff members began their own version of the “Biggest Loser” on February 1, 2010. Initially, this was a six-week program by thirty staff members to lose weight they had gained over the holidays. Eventually, however, the entire staff became involved in a campus-wide effort to lead healthier lifestyles. A walking club, access to the on-site fitness center (with trainers available for support and encouragement), kick-boxing classes, access to nutritional information, and healthier eating options available in Asbury’s Bistro and vending machines, were all a part of the program. Because of the interest in the program, it was extended another six weeks.
“We have been overwhelmed by our staff’s response to this program, and certainly, we are honored to have been selected for this award,” said Tesa Brown, executive director of Asbury Place Maryville. “Four weeks into the program, staff members reported increased self-esteem, improved outlook on life, improved staff interaction, and meeting their weekly weight loss goals. We anticipate long-term benefits, as well. Decreased insurance premiums, meeting personal weight loss goals, improved mobility, and less work-related accidents are documented outcomes of such programs nationwide.”
ABOUT ASBURY PLACE MARYVILLE
Founded in 1956, Asbury, Inc. manages a network of not-for-profit retirement communities and health care centers for individuals fifty-five or better in Maryville, Kingsport, and Johnson City, Tennessee. For more information, please visit https://www.asburyplace.org.