Verizon Awards Ministry’s Community Weight Race
For the City-Times
In 2008 Ministry Health Care’s Community Weight Race program reached over 400 participants. Last year nearly 1,000 entered the annual health competition. On December 7 Saint Michael’s Foundation was awarded a $10,000 check from the Verizon Foundation to help meet the Community Weight Race’s growing demand.
“This gift could not have come at a better time,” shared Traci Smet, program creator and Licensed Athletic Trainer, Ministry Sports Medicine. “As more people pay attention to obesity issues, we gain more interest and continue to expand add more services to the program.”
Obesity is one of the top five issues identified by Portage County through the 2012 LIFE Report. As healthcare leaders in the community, Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital and Ministry Medical Group understand the importance of providing opportunities to learn how to lead a healthier lifestyle and maintain a healthy weight.
“The Community Weight Race is an excellent example of the innovation, dedication and the impact our healthcare professionals are making in our community,” shared Angie Heuck, Foundation Director. “We are extremely humbled to accept this grant from the Verizon Foundation, a gift this size will help us reach even more people in 2014.”
The Ministry Community Weight Race, a partnership with Portage County CAN and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, is a team effort consisting of an entire community working towards the common goal of living a healthier lifestyle and losing weight as a result.
The 2014 Ministry Community Weight Race begins their seventh season on January 6. For more information visit ministryhealth.org/cwr.
Other programs supported through Saint Michael’s Foundation include; Angel Fund, Breast Care Center Fund, Ministry Dental Center, Homecare/Hospice, Project Embrace™, Vetter Family Alzheimer’s Fund and others. For more information, contact Saint Michael’s Foundation ministryhealth.org/smfoundation.
Photo: left – right: Dennis Kaster, Director Rehab Services Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital, Mary Bowman, Ministry Home Care Services, and Curtis Graff Verizon District Manager.
About Verizon Foundation
The Verizon Foundation is becoming a new channel for innovation and social change. Verizon’s philanthropic activities go beyond charitable contributions. They include collaborating with leading nonprofit organizations to combine our powerful technology with our philanthropic resources to address challenging issues in education, healthcare and energy management in underserved communities. Verizon Foundation is focused on programs that help women, children and seniors to manage their chronic diseases, to help explore new ways to connect patients with doctors and specialists and to improve access to healthcare for the underserved. www.verizonfoundation.org
About Ministry Health Care
Ministry Health Care is an integrated healthcare delivery network serving more than 1.1 million people across Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. Ministry generates nearly $2.2 billion in annual operating revenue with 15 hospitals, 47 clinics, and more than 12,000 associates including 650 physicians and advanced practice clinicians. Ministry Health Care recently joined Ascension Health as the second healthcare ministry in Wisconsin. Ascension is the largest Catholic and not-for-profit healthcare system in the nation. Ministry is ranked among the top 20 percent of healthcare systems in the country according to Truven Health Analytics.