Shining Star Awards Recognize Health and Fitness Efforts
The Tennessee Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health will honor seven programs and organizations from across the state on Monday, May 12, 2008, for their efforts in the promotion of healthy lifestyles. The Governor’s Council has established a Shining Star Award to recognize efforts by an individual or group to encourage healthy lifestyles. Recipients will receive their awards during the Shining Star Awards Dinner at 6 p.m. May 12, at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville.
“I applaud the efforts of these organizations in improving the health and fitness of Tennessee citizens,” said Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen. “The work of these groups and the individuals they inspire is helping put us on track to live longer lives and become a healthier state.”
Shining Star Awards are given for work in the following areas: Where we Live (communities), Work (employers), and Learn (educational settings). The 2008 Shining Star Award recipients are as follows:
- BlueCross Blue Shield Walking Works for Schools, Chattanooga
- City of Pigeon Forge Employee Wellness Program, Pigeon Forge
- Jumpstart Jackson, Jackson
- NEAT (Nutrition, Education, Activity and Training), Knoxville
- Tennessee Lottery Employee Wellness Program, Nashville
- Step Up Shape Up, Bartlett
- Blakeford at Green Hills, Nashville
“These Shining Star Award winners prove that just a bit of motivation is all it takes to help people become more active and improve their health and fitness,” said Susan R. Cooper, MSN, RN, Commissioner of Health. “Community efforts like these, in partnership with state initiatives including Project Diabetes and Get Fit Tennessee, are encouraging more Tennesseans to make the changes to lead more healthful lives.”
The Tennessee Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health was created to address the health and fitness needs of all Tennesseans through the promotion of healthy lifestyles. The council recognizes that to be successful in affecting a change in the lifestyle habits of Tennesseans, a cooperative effort will be required of government agencies, businesses, communities and individuals that share the goal of enhancing the quality of life in Tennessee through the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
For more information visit the Tennessee Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health’s Web site at http://health.state.tn.us/governorscouncil/index.shtml.
Governor Bredesen has been instrumental in the creation and development of several initiatives aimed at improving Tennesseans’ health status. Project Diabetes is his innovative public health initiative launched in 2006 to address the epidemic of Type 2 diabetes in Tennessee. To learn more about Project Diabetes, call 615-253-8729 or e-mail Project.Diabetes@state.tn.us. Governor Bredesen also created Get Fit Tennessee, a statewide awareness program, to educate Tennesseans about Type 2 diabetes and risk factors that lead to the disease, such as obesity. Visit the Get Fit Web site at www.getfittn.com for more information and free tools that can help you improve your health and fitness.