NEWS RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For Immediate Release
April 25, 2012
Tarey Bernhard 262-687-2128
Dr. Ken Gould 262-633-0080
Designation supports the city’s focused effort to enhance the health
and well-being of the community
Racine – What first comes to mind is a city plentiful of cheese, fish fry and Danish kringle, but Racine is now officially a Well City. Mayor John Dickert, Racine County Executive Jim Ladwig and local business leaders gathered today at the Racine Civic Centre, Festival Park to announce Racine’s official Well City USA designation. The three-year effort establishes Racine as a healthy place to live and work and recognizes Racine’s progress to promote healthy lifestyles in the workplace as well as in the Racine community.
Well City USA, a nationally recognized program of the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA), is a community-wide initiative that encourages employers to develop worksite wellness programs that meet the standards of excellence as defined by WELCOA’s Well Workplace Model.
As the only community in the nation selected to initiate a Well City project in 2008, the Racine community was awarded the official Well City USA designation today by WELCOA for becoming a national leader in wellness and creating a more energetic and productive workforce by promoting healthy lifestyles. “The Well City designation shows that Racine is working in a positive direction towards promoting and enhancing the health and well-being of individuals in the community,” said Racine’s Mayor John Dickert. “We are on this wellness journey together, and together we will continue to make Racine a healthier city to work, live, and play in.”
The designation effort, led by the Well City Racine Task Force, consisted of a series of benchmarks over a three-year period, which included participation by local businesses and organizations that implemented results oriented wellness programs. As part of the designation process, a total of 20 employers representing at least 20 percent of Racine’s employed population needed to achieve accreditation as “Well Workplaces” for the city to earn the Well City designation. In total, 22 employers in Racine met all of the criteria to become accredited.
“The Well City USA designation demonstrates that the Racine businesses successfully united in leadership with a common vision to promote the health and well-being of individuals in the community”, said Tarey Bernhard RN, Co-Chair of the Well City Racine Task Force. “It is our hopeful intention that Well City Racine will have a ripple effect involving more businesses and extending from the business into the homes of families and into our children’s classrooms. This three year designation is not a destination but an ongoing commitment to wellness.”
About Well City Racine
Well City Racine started as a Leadership Racine project in 2008. Ken Buser, President and CEO of Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare-All Saints, was a catalyst in obtaining business leadership commitment. The Well City Racine initiative was led by the Well City Racine Task Force with representatives from several community businesses formed with the collaborative support of Former Racine County Executive Bill McReynolds, Mayor John Dickert and Racine County Executive Jim Ladwig. For more information please visit www.wellcityracine.org Interview opportunities are available upon request, please contact Tarey Bernhard at 262-687-2128 or Dr. Ken Gould at
262-633-0080.
