MAYOR BILL WHITE, HOUSTON BUSINESS HEAVYWEIGHTS STEP UP TO THE PLATE TO LAUNCH NEW CITYWIDE WELLNESS INITIATIVE Houston Wellness Association seeks to make Houston "the model city for wellness"
December 5, 2006 -- Serving as lead-off batter at Minute Maid Park, Mayor Bill White today introduced a new team to Houston whose public and private sector "players" are launching an ambitious citywide campaign to promote wellness.
The Houston Wellness Association (HWA) is a collaborative effort to advance Mayor White's 2005 wellness program designed to elevate the level of fitness and wellness in the wake of Houston's designation three years in a row as America's fattest city by Men's Fitness magazine.
The HWA is comprised of major national corporations and Houston-based businesses that, as founding partners, have pledged to spearhead initiatives addressing the healthcare needs of all segments of the population. These initiatives include childhood obesity, workplace wellness and seniors' health.
Founding partners of the HWA are:
Minute Maid
Houston Astros
CIGNA HealthCare
Halliburton
Kelsey-Seybold Clinic
Memorial Hermann Healthcare System
Texas Children's Hospital
Wal-Mart
Westside Tennis & Fitness
"The Mayor's Wellness Council laid valuable groundwork for improving the health of all Houstonians over the past two years," said Mayor White. "However, only through business development, private sector initiatives and community partnerships can we truly achieve the level of wellness it will take to make Houston the model city for wellness in America."
Mayor White was joined by Houston Astros owner Drayton McLane and Mike Saint John, senior VP of Coca-Cola North America and General Manager of Minute Maid, along with representatives from the other founding partners, in a ceremony at Minute Maid Park to officially launch the HWA while soliciting membership and financial support. With Baseball Hall of Fame Broadcaster Milo Hamilton calling the play-by-play, new members enjoyed a unique opportunity to take batting practice after signing up.
"The Houston Wellness Association urges businesses and individuals to step up to the plate and create greater opportunity to improve the health and wellness of all Houstonians," said Jonathan Lack, HWA chairman. "With the backdrop of this beautiful ballpark, we remind everyone that promoting good health throughout our community is not a spectator sport."
Lack says the HWA is seeking the participation of businesses in the healthcare industry, including traditional medical providers, health clubs, nutritionists and manufacturers of sporting equipment and apparel; of employers of all sizes throughout the Houston area that are committed to managing the rising cost of health benefits for their employees; and of individual Houstonians who stand to benefit directly from the products and services delivered by a rapidly growing wellness industry.
