LA QUINTA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM), a leading health and well-being company, today announced several exciting new initiatives at the Humana Challenge PGA TOUR golf tournament that will engage people in their own health and well-being. The event was held in the Bob Hope Square at PGA West in La Quinta, Calif. and featured Gary Player, leading golf icon and recently announced Humana health and well-being ambassador.
One of the new initiatives that debuted during the event is the Humana Walkit Challenge, which encourages people to improve their health by counting their steps, both at the Humana Challenge and at various PGA TOUR events across the country. Through this program, attendees at the 2013 Humana Challenge will receive a pedometer to help them track their steps.
Following the tournament’s conclusion, Humana will take the Humana Walkit Challenge to other PGA TOUR stops and challenge attendees to meet or surpass the number of steps taken during the Humana Challenge. The PGA TOUR stop that comes closest to equaling – or exceeding – the steps taken at the Humana Challenge will win a KaBOOM! multi-generational playground build in their community in 2014, funded by Humana.
“The vision for the Humana Challenge is all about ‘well-being … with a side of golf,’” said Bruce Broussard, President and CEO of Humana. “Through the Humana Walkit Challenge we are encouraging all attendees, both at the Humana Challenge and across the country, to take a more active role in their health.”
Separately, the Humana Walkit Pro program is also new this year and will offer more information about how PGA TOUR pros are getting healthy through their craft. Humana, in partnership with IDS, a division of SMT and the PGA TOUR’s ShotLink Scoring System, will track the number of steps taken and calories burned by every player on the course in real-time – each day of the Humana Challenge.
Player information will be displayed on the leader board in various locations, including two video monitors in Bob Hope Square, three new LED InfoTowers on the course, the large-screen Digital Media Center inside the Humana Challenge Media Center and via The Golf Channel and HumanaChallenge.com in order to show people the immediate impact that golf – and walking – can have on their health.
Displays will also include “at home” tips to help viewers burn a similar number of calories and information about how taking small steps can lead to big changes.
The Humana Challenge will also feature four theme days during the event, which include:
- Thursday, Jan. 17: Novo Nordisk Seniors’ Day
- Friday, Jan. 18: KMIR/KPSE MY13 Women’s Day
- Saturday, Jan. 19: Humana Military Appreciation Day
- Sunday, Jan. 20: Barbara Sinatra Children's Center Kids’ Day
“A common goal for Humana’s programs is making healthy things fun and fun things healthy,” said Gary Player, renowned professional golfer and Humana well-being ambassador. “The Humana Challenge offers great opportunities to have a great time while getting healthy and I look forward to a lasting, long-term relationship with Humana and this event.”
Finally, Humana will once again bring its Well-Being Tour to the Humana Challenge, which is a mobile wellness center that features a variety of ways to get healthy and active. Activities at the Well-Being Tour include:
- Humana Bike Stations: Visitors will use “pedal power” to operate a blender bike and create their own smoothies, or power their way to a glass of water.
- Humana Biometrics Stations: Participants will visit one of four (non-invasive) biometric screening stations to receive personalized health results and ask questions of qualified professionals.
- Xbox Kinect: People will experience the Humana co-branded Xbox Kinect “Your Shape” game that demonstrates how being healthy can also be fun.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health care company that offers a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. By leveraging the strengths of its core businesses, Humana believes it can better explore opportunities for existing and emerging adjacencies in health care that can further enhance wellness opportunities for the millions of people across the nation with whom the company has relationships. More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company’s website at www.humana.com.
About the William J. Clinton Foundation
Building on a lifetime of public service, President Bill Clinton established the William J. Clinton Foundation with the mission to improve global health, strengthen economies, promote health and wellness, and protect the environment by fostering partnerships among governments, businesses, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and private citizens to turn good intentions into measurable results. Since 2001, President Clinton’s vision and leadership have resulted in nearly 5 million people benefiting from lifesaving HIV/AIDS treatment; more than 15,000 U.S. schools building healthier learning environments; more than 33,000 micro-entrepreneurs, small business owners, and smallholder farmers improving their livelihoods and communities; and more than 248 million tons of CO2 being reduced in cities around the world. And President Clinton has redefined the way we think about giving and philanthropy through his Clinton Global Initiative, whose members have made more than 2,300 commitments that are improving the lives of nearly 400 million people in more than 180 countries. For more information, visit clintonfoundation.org, read our blog at clintonfoundation.org/upclose, and follow us on Twitter @ClintonTweet and Facebook at Facebook.com/BillClinton.
About Desert Classic Charities
Since its inception, Desert Classic Charities, the charitable entity that organizes the Humana Challenge, has contributed more than $52 million to the Eisenhower Medical Center and surrounding Coachella Valley nonprofit organizations. Its scope of giving is broad and includes structured and mentoring programs for children, social services, and food and safe shelter for the less fortunate. Desert Classic Charities is dedicated to continuing its mission to serve human needs in the Coachella Valley and beyond by generating funds and opportunities through the Humana Challenge.
About PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is the world’s premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 100 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour. The PGA TOUR’s mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.
About SMT and IDS
SMT and IDS are the leading innovators in data delivery, graphics solutions and tech support for sporting and entertainment events, providing clients with real-time scoring, statistics, virtual insertion and messaging. SMT is the expert in data integration, graphics presentation and real-time implementation in all facets of broadcast television. IDS, a division of SMT, supports client operations during live sporting events with collection, storage, distribution and presentation of sports content for on-site signage/message displays, broadcast support, internet services, information systems and technical support. Together, SMT and IDS provide a comprehensive turn-key solution for clients worldwide. For more information, visit www.SMT.com or www.IDS-sports.com.
About Gary Player
Gary Player, often referred to as the Black Knight, symbolizes all that world-class golf is or was ever intended to be. A champion in every sense of the word, he has won 165 professional tournaments worldwide and through the philanthropic efforts of his foundation generated over $50 million dollars for the education of underprivileged children. Player, a master of the game, and a world leader in golf course design is credited with shaping more than 325 courses worldwide.
When Gary Player won the US Open in 1965 at age 29, he became only the third golfer to win the Grand Slam, following Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. Since then, only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have added their names to this elite group. Player has, to date, won nine major championships on the regular PGA TOUR and nine on the Senior or Champions Tour. He is a three time President’s Cup Captain and in 2000 received South Africa’s Sportsman of the Century Award.
In addition to his 40 years of golf course design, Player currently serves as the Global Ambassador to the World Golf Hall of Fame and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from St. Andrews University. His legendary career and humanitarian endeavors have been acknowledged through numerous awards, including the 2012 PGA TOUR Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2006 PGA TOUR Payne Stewart Award, and the 2003 Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Player has circled the globe in pursuit of sporting events, and after journeying over 15 million miles (or 25 million kilometers) he is widely recognized as The World’s Most Traveled Athlete. When not traveling to or from sporting events, Player divides his time between the South African stud farm, where he has bred more than 2,000 winning thoroughbred racehorses, and his residence on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound, Fla.