Celebrate Iowa's Healthiest Communities, Schools, Universities, Businesses, Leaders

First Annual Healthy Iowa Awards Presented October 1

DES MOINES, IA (09/21/2009)(readMedia)--  October 1 marks the first annual presentation of the Healthy Iowa Awards. These awards celebrate the healthiest schools, organizations and individuals in Iowa.

The Healthy Iowa Awards are presented by the Academy for a Healthy Iowa - a collaboration between the Iowa Department of Public Health, Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Nutrition and Wellness Council of Iowa.

Award winners are selected based on providing access to wellness, programming, financial commitment, measurability and sustainability. Winners retain the "Healthy Iowa" designation for three years at which point they must reapply.

The 2009 awards are as follows:

Healthy Iowa Visionary: Trent Unde and Larry Raymon of Raymon-Donco Air Distribution in Albion, Iowa.

Healthy Iowa Community: Linn County.

Healthy Iowa Emerging Leader Award Devin DeWeerd, a freshman at Iowa State University.

Healthy Iowa School Award: Waverly Shell Rock Junior High School.

Healthy Iowa College or University Award: University of Iowa.

The Healthy Iowa Award banquet will be held October 1, 5-9 p.m., at the Hy-Vee Conference Center in West Des Moines, Iowa. The annual Wellness Council of Iowa awards will also be presented at this event. To purchase tickets visit www.wellnessiowa.org.

The event is supported by UnitedHealthcare, Des Moines University, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Iowa Health System, Iowa Foundation for Medical Care and Farm Bureau.