Humana teamed up mid-January with the William J. Clinton Foundation, the PGA TOUR and Desert Classic Charities to host the inaugural Humana Challenge golf tournament – the first PGA TOUR event to focus on well-being…with a side of golf. Held Jan. 14-20 in La Quinta, Calif., the tournament featured lifelong well-being as its theme and challenged 95 pro golfers, thousands of spectators and the general public to improve their health by making positive changes in diet, exercise and lifestyle.
Rocky Goode, a Humana broker, believes the company's sponsorship speaks volumes. "Because now we're out front talking about wellness and well-being. If we've got any chance to get control of rising healthcare costs, it's through better behavior…better outcomes."
To create a lasting and positive effect on the La Quinta community, Humana hosted a series of fun and participatory wellness activities throughout the week. They reinforced Humana's commitment to well-being – and underscored its motto of "Making fun things healthy and healthy things fun." These activities included:
- Sponsoring 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 musical acts and a kids' Fun Zone.
- Building and donating a KaBOOM! Multi-Generational Playground in Thermal, Calif., in the Coachella Valley, which will help local children and adults alike stay active.
- Sponsoring Humana Day at the Certified Farmers' Market in La Quinta, providing patrons with fresh food, music and culinary entertainment.
- Challenging fans in attendance to participate in the Humana Walkit® Challenge, a program for people to track their steps at the tournament using Humana pedometers.
- Increasing healthy food options at concession stands.
These activities helped to jump start the conversation in La Quinta about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle at all ages, as well as the need to take advantage of wellness offerings.
"Health and wellness is probably the key and foremost discussion that we have with our clients," said Humana broker Jason Hackerd. "They understand that reducing the cost of claims over the years is vital. And they've got to attack it up front. Wellness is the key to do that."
Two particular events held during tournament week will help the well-being conversation continue well past tournament week and far beyond the La Quinta community. They were the Clinton Foundation Conference and the launch of Humana's Well-being Tour.
Humana and the Clinton Foundation Foster Well-being Conversation
The Humana Challenge tournament featured an historic partnership with President Bill Clinton and the William J. Clinton Foundation. At the week's first major event, President Clinton and his Foundation hosted the Health Matters: Activating Wellness in Every Generation conference. It attracted health and well-being thought leaders throughout the country to identify strategies for personal health and to showcase ways to contribute to the health and well-being of others.
Panelists and guests included Jillian Michaels, health and wellness expert; TV journalist Chelsea Clinton; Dr. Nancy Synderman, chief medical officer, NBC; Dr. Deepak Chopra, co-founder of the Chopra Center for Wellbeing; and President Clinton. Humana CEO Mike McCallister also spoke during the conference as a panelist for "Health, Wellness, and the Bottom Line: A Dialogue among Business Leaders."
Conference participants and attendees are expected to use the knowledge and strategies gained during the conference to make measurable changes in their own lives, in their communities and in their businesses.
Well-being Tour Launches
Humana also launched its national Well-being Tour at the Humana Challenge, bringing its broader vision for lifelong well-being to life. An 18-wheel tractor trailer mobile display featured opportunities for people to participate in a variety of well-being activities, including riding stationary bikes, participating in biometric screenings, and viewing a display of the new Xbox Kinect game sponsored by Humana, "Your Shape 2012." The tour displays and activities captured Humana's vision for life-long well-being and its commitment to helping people live life fully.
Following the Humana Challenge, the Tour will travel across the country for eight months, stopping in different communities, meeting people where they live and giving them a fresh perspective on healthy living. Additional stopping sites will include PGA TOUR events, Humana Guidance Centers and other health-focused venues.
