Volunteers celebrate during the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Gateway Park Apartments in Portland, Oregon.

More than 250 volunteers joined forces to build a multigenerational playground in six hours in Portland, Ore., on Sept. 22 as Humana and KaBOOM! kicked off their second annual fall playground tour in which they will build nine playgrounds in nine cities over the next nine weeks.

Residents of Gateway Park Apartments in northeast Portland had met weeks before to provide input and help design their new 1,710-square-foot playground, which features fitness stations, traditional kid-friendly equipment, walking paths and adult/senior stretch stations.

The playground will give children in this apartment community –who had been playing in a parking lot –a safe space to play. It also gives adults in the apartments a place to exercise.

The Portland playground is now included on a growing list of play spaces that Humana and KaBOOM! are building across the county. The playgrounds promote healthy play for people of all ages, but they also help families reconnect and create memories. Enthusiasm for these neighborhood legacies continues long after the day of the build.

“My family and I have continued to use this playground week after week since it was built last fall,” said Dorothy Jackson, of Midway, Fla., who frequents a playground Humana and KaBOOM! built last fall in Orlando, Fla. “The equipment has given me a reason to stay active and a safe place to play with my grandchildren—I love it!”

In addition to Portland, playgrounds will be built in Milwaukee, Wis.; Cleveland, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; South Charleston, W.Va.; Springfield, Mo.; Huntsville, Ala.; Baton Rouge, La., and Phoenix, Ariz. from Sept. 22 through Nov. 17.

Based in part on the success of their 2011 campaign—building eight playgrounds in eight cities in eight weeks—Humana and The Humana Foundation recently entered into a three-year alliance with KaBOOM!, running from 2012 through 2014. As part of the alliance, Humana, The Humana Foundation and KaBOOM! are now teaming up to build more than 50 playgrounds across the United States over a four-year time frame.

Additionally, The Humana Foundation is also sponsoring the KaBOOM! Playful City USA initiative, a program honoring cities and towns that make play a priority and use innovative approaches to get children active, playing, and healthy.

Related Videos and Articles

• In this video, the residents of the desert community of Thermal, Calif., who named their playground Mirage, explain what it means to them and how it helps build hope for healthier, happier days ahead.
• “Humana leaves a legacy in Charlotte, Tampa”: Humana and KaBOOM! built multigenerational playgrounds in the two host cities for the 2012 political conventions.
• This AARP blog, “The Shape of Things to Come: Adult Playground,” discusses the many benefits of the multigenerational playgrounds.

Susanne Haehlen, winner of the Humana “Build a Family Legacy” sweepstakes

Are you someone who’s never won anything in your life?

So was Susanne Haehlen, a retired art teacher living in Marion, Iowa. That is until she entered the Humana “Build a Family Legacy” sweepstakes. Through this initiative, Humana invited families across America to enter a sweepstakes to win a unique prize – a custom-designed multi-generational playground constructed near their hometown.

When DeDe Eschen, Susanne’s daughter, first heard about the Humana sweepstakes, she was immediately motivated to get her family to enter. In fact, for three years she and the nearby community of Alburnett had been raising money for a new playground in their sports complex, but with a number of other priorities, including constructing a softball field and running track, the playground was a distant dream.

That is until her mother, Susanne, won the “Build a Family Legacy” sweepstakes.

To make this dream come true, Humana, KaBOOM!,the Alburnett Community School District Foundation and volunteers joined forces Saturday, May 12, to build a one-of-a-kind playground in the Alburnett Martin Sports Complex. The customized playground was built in six hours and features senior-focused and adult elements, such as fitness stations and walking paths – as well as more traditional, kid-friendly equipment.

In addition, Susanne and her family won a professionally catered reunion at the multi-generational playground following its construction, truly epitomizing the goal of building a family legacy. Just ask DeDe, who proudly said, “This is only the beginning of what is yet to come for Alburnett.”

Humana believes in the power of personal relationships and that enjoying life to the fullest at any stage should be a reality for all. Through its ongoing partnership with KaBOOM!, the company continues to foster strong communities by creating playgrounds for all generations to stay healthy and active.

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.”

Following the Humana Challenge, the mobile display will visit communities across the country for eight months. Tour stops will include PGA TOUR events, Humana Guidance Centers, KaBOOM! multi-generational playground construction sites and other health-focused venues.

“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.”

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.”

The Humana “Build a Legacy Tour” has been on the road the last few weeks with stops in Albuquerque, N.M., Tucson, Ariz., and Nashville, Tenn. As the tour crossed the country, more than 600 local volunteers helped build wonderful multi-generational playgrounds and family gathering spaces. Here are a few highlights from our most recent stops.

Albuquerque

• On Thursday, Nov. 3, the Tour made its fourth stop and joined forces with PB&J Family Services, the Bernalillo Senior Center and volunteers from the Bernalillo area to build their unique multi-generational playground and Family Gathering Space.
• The Albuquerque Senior Center showed strong support as volunteers came in droves to help build the playground and install the Life Trail equipment.
• Other notable attendees included Congressman Martin T. Heinrich, Bernalillo Mayor Jack Torres and State Senator John Sapien.

Tucson

• Humana volunteers came out in full force as the fifth build on the tour hit Tucson on Saturday, Nov. 5.
• Humana, Chicanos Por La Causa, the Santa Cruz Apartments and the city of Tucson did not disappoint as families joined together to build this multi-generational playground in the middle of an apartment complex.

Nashville

• On Veterans Day, the community members near United Way’s McGruder Family Resource Center came together on a chilly but sunny day to brighten up the back lot of the center, where the playground was built.
• Nan Kelley from the Great American Country channel joined the volunteer team.
• A moment of silence was observed at noon for our veterans and a color guard from nearby Maplewood High School ROTC performed a flag ceremony during the ribbon cutting.

Photographs courtesy of Cheryl D. Dobbins

This weekend the Humana “Build a Legacy Tour” headed to Greensboro, N.C., for the third of eight multi-generational playground builds around the country.

Humana volunteers, the YWCA and KaBOOM! organizers braved cold temperatures and wind and rain on Saturday, Oct. 29, to start the project in High Point, about 20 minutes outside of Greensboro.

Poor weather didn’t bring down the spirit of the team, though, and they lucked out as the rain dissipated and sun started shining mid-morning.

More than 250 local volunteers of all ages – nearly 100 of those from Humana – contributed, including Dallas Mavericks center (and recent NBA Champion), Brendan Haywood, who has deep roots in the area.

Invited by Humana, KaBOOM! and the YWCA, Brendan joined the team of volunteers in constructing playground components for people of all ages, including a Triple Racer Slide, Lifetrail exercise stations, Tic-Tac-Toe Activity Wall, Rope Climber and Climbing activities.

“It is a good cause,” Brendan said. “KaBOOM! and Humana are doing a lot of good things in the community, and it’s something I wanted to partner up with and be a part of.”

In addition to helping with the build, Brendan also had the chance to meet with local children and take pictures and speak with participants.

The team was thankful to have his help and support. Thank you, Brendan!

The second of eight multi-generational playgrounds is finished in New Orleans as part of the Humana “Build a Legacy Tour” taking place this fall.

Humana volunteers, the Cleary Playground Athletic Association, Jefferson Parish Parks and Recreation and KaBOOM! rallied on Wednesday at Cleary Playground, 3700 Civic Street in Metairie, to help build a multi-generational play space for the local community.

More than 200 local volunteers of all ages, along with Humana and KaBOOM!, constructed play equipment and fitness stations in less than six hours. The Cleary Playground is the second of eight multigenerational playgrounds being built across the nation over eight weeks.

Jeff Fernandez, Louisiana senior products market president, helped kick the day off and worked with other local Humana associates throughout the day to make this community dream a reality.

Here are some more fun facts about the build:

• More than 200 volunteers from Humana and the community worked together to build this space
• More than 22,000 pounds of concrete were mixed by hand
• Volunteers will be adding 2,520 square feet of multi-generational playground space for people of all ages in Metairie.

More than 200 volunteers gathered early Wednesday, Oct. 19, in Tudor Square Park near Seattle to create a multi-generational playground. Within six hours, they had created a neighborhood legacy that will promote healthy play and well-being for people of all ages. The customized playground, funded primarily by Humana, was created with personal drawings and input from local community members – from children to seniors. 

The unique space will have senior-focused and adult elements, such as fitness stations and walking paths, to promote good posture, balance and flexibility – as well as more traditional, kid-friendly equipment to build a truly multi-generational space. The new playground is also a place where families can hold reunions, create memories and live life to the fullest. In celebration of its 50th anniversary, Humana is partnering with KaBOOM, a national nonprofit organization, to create these unique playgrounds. The first was built in Lauderhill, Fla. Seven more will be built this fall in New Orleans; Greensboro, N.C.; Albuquerque, N.M.; Tucson, Ariz.; Nashville, Tenn.; Orlando, Fla.; and San Antonio.

In addition to members of the Kent community, volunteers from Kent Parks, Recreation & Community Services, Kent Parks Foundation, Tudor Square Neighborhood Council, Humana and KaBOOM! helped create the latest playground.

Here are some more facts about the build:

• More than 15,200 pounds of concrete was mixed by hand to set the equipment
• More than 43,740 square feet of safety surfacing was moved 
• Humana Build a Legacy Tour mobile food truck was also on-site serving hungry participants fresh fruit, whole-grain bagels and bread, chocolate milk and grilled turkey dogs.

Mike McCallister (center) meets with Tim Finchem (right) and President Clinton before the press conference held at the Clinton Foundation in Harlem.(Photos by Adam Schultz/Clinton Foundation)

Humana Chairman and CEO Mike McCallister joined President Bill Clinton and PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem at a recent press conference in New York to discuss the new direction that the Humana Challenge will take in January 2012. The former Bob Hope Classic is still a premier PGA TOUR event, but in addition to the new name, it will have a new focus on health and well-being and showcase the benefits of living healthier lives.

Tournament week, Jan. 16-22, will feature a national conference on health and well-being, highlighted by a keynote address from President Clinton. The tournament provides a unique opportunity to immerse people of all ages in a variety of innovative and fun events around the theme of lifelong well-being, which makes it a perfect fit for the sponsors, Humana and The William J. Clinton Foundation. Humana and the Clinton Foundation understand the challenges we all face as we strive to live healthier, happier lives and demonstrate a commitment to helping us do just that through initiatives such as the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, multi-generational playgrounds, programs that reward healthier behaviors, a bike-sharing program and Humana Games for Health.

For more information about the Humana Challenge, read coverage of the press conference from The New York Times, USA Today and Golf Digest.

Humana Chairman and CEO Mike McCallister joined more than 140 associates who volunteered to build an innovative, multigenerational playground in the city of Lauderhill, Florida. Humana volunteers built the 2,500-square-foot playground at Ruth Rothkopf Park, as well as five standalone exercise stations for adults and senior citizens. In addition, volunteers also built new picnic tables, benches, shade areas, and an enhanced walking path. Humana continues to celebrate its 50th Anniversary. Fifty years of helping people. The playground build is part of a continuing effort to say thank you to the communities where our members live.