June 20, 2007
YMCA of Greater Providence receives Gold Award for Worksite Wellness
YMCA receives award from Worksite Wellness Council of Rhode Island.
The YMCA of Greater Providence was among the Gold Award recipients at the recent Well State Awards Breakfast, hosted by the Worksite Wellness Council of Rhode Island. The charitable health and wellness service organization that has provided wellness programs and services for Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts communities since 1853 was duly recognized for maintaining a work environment that supports a healthy lifestyle.
Earning the Gold Award from the Worksite Wellness Council of Rhode Island marks a significant achievement for the non-profit YMCA. The statewide recognition illustrates the YMCA’s success in building an infrastructure that will sustain a high quality workforce and enable the organization to sustain its charitable mission for all.
“Our team worked very hard, under the guidance of the Worksite Wellness Council of Rhode Island, to learn how to create a healthier work environment, and then put it into practice,” said Mary Gablaski, VP of Human Resources for the YMCA. “Many of the procedures were already in place. The WWCRI helped us to refine what needed to be more cohesive, and to define areas for improvement. We never expected to receive the Gold Award on our first attempt. This is very gratifying and speaks to the efforts of our YMCA’s staff teams working together.”
The YMCA, along with other applicants, are measured on criteria such as the organization’s CEO support; the cohesiveness of wellness teams; data collection; operational planning; health intervention; a supportive environment; and evaluating outcomes.
The YMCA of Greater Providence scored 177.19 out of a possible 180 total points.
In a letter of congratulations to the YMCA’s President and CEO, Karen Leslie, Rhode Island Governor Donald L. Carcieri acknowledged that he “enthusiastically championed” making Rhode Island a Well State. Through the YMCA’s achievement, as well as other organizations across the state, Rhode Island has become the first state to earn the “Well State” distinction.
Those who took the leadership in earning the designation for the YMCA of Greater Providence, Mary Gablaski, Beth DiPippo, and Cindy McDermott attended a State House celebration to recognize the Y’s Gold Award, and recognize the Ocean State as a “Well State”.