Celebrate Iowa's healthiest communities, schools, universities, businesses, leaders October 20

Register for third annual Healthy Iowa Awards

DES MOINES, IA (10/12/2011)(readMedia)-- Get your ticket now to celebrate the healthiest schools, organizations and individuals in Iowa on October 20 – the third annual presentation of the Healthy Iowa Awards, 5:00 pm at the Hy-Vee Conference Center in West Des Moines, Iowa.

"This ceremony is just so inspiring and rewarding for everyone interested in health issues," said Craig Hanken, executive director of the Wellness Council of Iowa. "It's a testament to the pride and dedication people across our state have to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation!"

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 2011 awards are as follows:

Healthy Iowa K-12 School Award: Phenix Elementary, West Des Moines

Honorable Mention: Grundy Center Schools

Healthy Iowa College/University Award: Drake University, Des Moines

Honorable Mention: Grinnell College

Healthy Iowa Emerging Community Award: Cass County

Honorable Mention: Live Healthy Siouxland

Healthy Iowa Community Award: Grundy Center

Honorable Mention: Burlington, Marshalltown, Van Buren County, Quad Cities

Healthy Iowa Visionary Leader: To Be Announced at Event

Iowa's healthiest businesses will be honored by the Wellness Council of America Well Workplace Awards as well. They include:

  • 21st Century Rehab, Nevada
  • City of Ames, Ames
  • The Finley Hospital, Dubuque
  • Grand View University, Des Moines
  • Great River Health System, Burlington
  • Johnson Machine Works, Chariton
  • Meredith Corporation, Des Moines
  • Pella Regional Medical Center, Pella
  • Pioneer Hi-Bred International
  • University of Iowa, Iowa City
  • Wellmark, Des Moines
  • Wesley Acres, Des Moines
  • Winegard Corporation, Burlington

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. The event is made possible in part by support from UnitedHealthcare.

Prior to the awards banquet, Iowa most innovative wellness professionals will gather for the Wellness Council's Healthy Iowa Conference: Creating a Culture of Wellness. The event will feature speakers Dan Buettner, author of "The Blue Zones", Ben Leedle, President of Healthways, Inc., Lee Dukes, President of Principal Wellness Company, James Curleigh, President of Keen, Paig Craig, President of BetterWorks, and OneBody3. The conference is sponsored by Wellmark, Healthways, Hy-Vee, and the Partnership for Better Health.

To learn more visit www.wellnessiowa.org.