Following on the heels of the successful Humana Challenge, our attention turns to the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, where Humana has been presenting this week to world business and government leaders. The WEF is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas.
As chairman of the WEF Workplace Wellness Alliance, Humana Chairman and CEO Mike McCallister is focused on promoting the important role employers can play in improving public health. In a post published on the Reuters Davos Notebook blog and during an interview with FOX Business, McCallister provides an update from the alliance, as well as examples of how Humana is using innovative technologies and new approaches to improve health and drive down costs.
[Updated: Feb. 9] In addition, Scribd, the world’s largest social reading and publishing company, hosted a new program at this year’s WEF called Documented@Davos, with co-hosts Pete Cashmore, founder and CEO of Mashable, and Facebook Live creator Randi Zuckerberg, sister to Facebook Chairman and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. In the Documented@Davos video, Raja Rajamannar, Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer, spoke about Humana’s mission to improve consumers’ lifelong well-being through its use of innovative tools like bikes that measure biometrics and partnerships with major video game makers.
Humana Challenge winner, Mark Wilson, receives the Bob Hope Memorial Trophy from the Desert Classic Charities board president John Foster, Mike McCallister, CEO of Humana and Tim Finchem on Sunday, January 22, 2012 in La Quinta, Calif. (Rodrigo Pena/AP Images for Humana)
The Humana Challenge wrapped up Sunday when Humana Chairman and CEO Mike McCallister presented the Bob Hope Memorial Trophy to Mark Wilson, who won the event by completing the course 24 strokes under par.
The PGA TOUR featured lifelong well-being as its theme, challenging everyone to improve their health by making positive behavioral changes that lead to happier, healthier lives. In keeping with that theme, the week of activities included events such as the national health and well-being conference, “Health Matters: Activating Wellness in Every Generation,” which was hosted by the William J. Clinton Foundation; building a multigenerational playground in partnership with KaBOOM!; launching a Well-Being Tour; hosting a farmer’s market that highlighted healthful diets; and a Healthy Fun Fair and a Well-Being Walk.
Humana Chairman and CEO Mike McCallister joined President Bill Clinton; Linda Hope, daughter of Bob Hope; and John Foster, president and chairman of the board of the Humana Challenge and Desert Classic Charities; on Thursday morning to unveil the new Bob Hope Memorial Trophy, which will be awarded to the winner of the inaugural Humana Challenge golf tournament on Sunday.
Bob Hope’s legacy remains at the center of the tournament and memorial trophy, which was designed to embody the spirit and wholeness of a healthy lifestyle in tribute to Hope, who lived to be 100, and his wife, Delores, who lived to be 102.
Acclaimed Kentucky artist Kenneth von Roenn designed the glass trophy, which depicts a golf ball on a tee with a spiraling design that embodies Humana’s commitment to growth, health and movement, and captures the mission of the William J. Clinton Foundation.
The golf tournament began Thursday and includes pros like Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III and Greg Norman. You can get the latest on the tournament by visiting http://humanachallenge.com.
Humana launched a national Well-being Tour from the Humana Challenge on Wednesday, creating a dynamic way to demonstrate Humana’s commitment to help people achieve lifelong well-being and live life fully. Raja Rajamannar, Humana Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation and Marketing Officer, introduced the tour, which features an 18-wheel tractor trailer mobile display with opportunities for visitors to participate in a variety of well-being activities, including stationary bikes, biometric screening stations, registration for Humana’s WalkIt program, and the new Xbox Kinect game sponsored by Humana, “Your Shape Fitness Evolved 2012.”
“This [Well-Being Tour] is going to go across the country…We’re trying to spread the message far and wide, and this is just the beginning!” said Rajamannar. “We are giving away 12,000 pedometers at this PGA TOUR event today. The whole idea is to get people to start moving and counting their steps.”
The Clinton Foundation hosted its first national health and well-being conference, “Health Matters: Activating Wellness in Every Generation,” Monday and Tuesday at the Humana Challenge. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from some of today’s leading health and well-being advocates, who worked together to identify strategies to improve the health and lives of others, especially children.
President Bill Clinton delivered the keynote address on the importance of incorporating health into all facets of our daily lives. Other speakers included health and wellness expert Jillian Michaels, PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem, Annika Sorenstam, and Humana Chairman and CEO Mike McCallister.
“We hope that the work that we’re doing with Humana and the PGA tour to carry on Bob Hope’s legacy of service and giving back will give us a tournament that has the goal of encouraging every single person to make a personal commitment to lifelong wellness and to be involved with family and community to encourage healthy living in others,” said President Clinton.
McCallister served as a panelist in a session titled, “Health, Wellness and the Bottom Line: A Dialogue among Business Leaders,” where he talked about empowering health consumers.
Humana kicked off activities in celebration of the Humana Challenge on Saturday by partnering with KaBOOM! and The Desert Alliance for Community Empowerment to build a multigenerational playground in Thermal, Calif., with more than 200 volunteers from the community and Humana. This new playground demonstrates Humana’s commitment to bringing children, adults and families together to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. The unique space has senior and adult-focused elements, such as fitness stations and walking paths, to promote good posture, balance and flexibility – as well as traditional kid-friendly equipment, offering a truly multi-generational space. Last year, Humana built similar playgrounds across the country during its “Build a Legacy Tour.” Each volunteer also received a pedometer on-site to wear throughout the day and take home.
“We had more than 200 enthusiastic volunteers at today’s playground build and it was fantastic to see so many people coming together for a common cause. With only one school in the rural Thermal area, local children didn’t have a place to play and this space now gives them an area to share with parents and grandparents, encouraging well-being at any age,” said Tom Noland, senior vice president of Corporate Communications at Humana. “What a great way to kick off a wonderful week of community wellness activities at the Humana Challenge!”
Also on Saturday, more than 500 people participated in the Well-Being Walk along Bear Creek Trail in La Quinta, Calif. The five-mile morning trek provided an opportunity for members of the community to come together and walk – one of the simplest ways to keep physically active at any age. Attendees also had a chance to visit the Humana Healthy Fun Fair, which included live music, martial arts and Zumba fitness demos, in addition to a Kids Fun Zone with multiple inflatables, a rock climbing wall, game booths and lawn games.
“The turnout for the Well-Being Walk and Healthy Fun Fair was fantastic,” said Jim Turner, Humana spokesperson. “It was so much fun to see people here in La Quinta come together for a day of healthy activities; it fits perfectly with the theme of the Humana Challenge tournament week – well-being, with a side of golf.”
We at Humana are thrilled to team up with the William J. Clinton Foundation, the PGA TOUR and Desert Classic Charities to host the inaugural Humana Challenge golf tournament, which will be held Jan. 19-22.
Recognized as the Bob Hope Classic from 1965 until this year, the Humana Challenge will focus on encouraging participants and community members to take an active role in their health. To help attendees in their journey toward achieving lifelong well-being, Humana is hosting a variety of activities throughout the week all around La Quinta, Calif., where the tournament is held. Highlights include:
Building a KaBOOM! multi-generational playground in Thermal, Calif., continuing Humana’s partnership with KaBOOM! to donate playgrounds to communities around the country (Saturday, Jan. 14).
Hosting the Humana Well-Being Walk, a five-mile community walk along Bear Creek trail in La Quinta, followed by the Humana Healthy Fun Fair featuring live musical acts and a Kids Fun Zone (Saturday, Jan. 14).
Participating in “Health Matters: Activating Wellness in Every Generation,” a conference in Indian Wells, Calif., hosted by the Clinton Foundation. This conference builds on President Bill Clinton’s post-presidency work to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote healthier childhoods, and protect the environment (Tuesday, Jan. 17).
Launching the Humana Well-Being Tour, a mobile display featuring opportunities to participate in a variety of well-being activities, including stationary bikes, biometric screening stations and a display of the Xbox Kinect game, “Your Shape 2012” (Wednesday, Jan. 18).
We will be posting updates through the week here at HumanaNews.com. You also can get the latest on the golf tournament, which will feature pros like Phil Mickelson, Davis Love III and Greg Norman, by visiting http://humanachallenge.com.
