HARC Announces Winners of the Coachella Valley Workplace Wellness Awards
Palm Desert, CA (June 15, 2016)… HARC Inc., a local nonprofit dedicated to improving health and wellness in the Coachella Valley, recently held the first annual Coachella Valley Workplace Wellness Awards on June 7th, 2016. This event was a part of June’s Employee Well-Being Month, a nationally-recognized celebration of wellness in the workplace.
HARC recognized winners in three subcategories (Nutrition/Fitness/Health Screenings, Safety/Ergonomics, and Mental Health/Well-Being) as well as overall grand prize winners who excelled in all three subcategories.
Grand Prize Winners
Cielo Vista Charter School was the grand prize winner among small organizations (fewer than 100 employees) while Desert Oasis Healthcare/Family Hospice Care (DOHC/FHC) was the grand prize winner among large organizations (over 101 employees). Both have incredibly comprehensive workplace wellness programs that create a healthy and productive work environment.
Cielo Vista Charter School credits their programs for maintaining high morale and keeping turnover low. When asked about their wellness program, Desert Oasis Healthcare/Family Hospice Care states, “DOHC/FHC is taking active steps to become the premier employer in the Coachella Valley – the Employee Success Program is a fundamental pillar to achieving this goal.”
Subcategory Winners
Twenty organizations representing a wide range of industries across the Coachella Valley applied for the awards. In addition to the two grand prize winners, subcategory awards were handed out to both small and large employers. These winners include:
- Nutrition, Fitness, Health Screenings: Riverside County Department of Child Support Services (small organization); Desert Arc (large organization)
- Safety and Ergonomics: MSA Consulting (small organization); Eisenhower Medical Center (large organization)
- Mental Health and Well-being: City of Indian Wells (small organization); Renova Energy (large organization)
The aim of the awards is to highlight the efforts of exemplary workplaces that prioritize employee health and well-being, and to inspire others to start similar initiatives. HARC views workplace wellness as a critical component of community health in our Valley. HARC looks forward to hosting the second annual Coachella Valley Workplace Wellness Awards in June of 2017.
The awards luncheon would not have been possible without the fabulous Master of Ceremonies, Janet Zappala of KMIR-KPSE, and the generosity of our sponsors: Molina Healthcare, Borrego Health, Desert AIDS Project, California State University, San Bernardino-Palm Desert Campus, Clinicas de Salud del Pueblo, Inc., Dr. Sharon Brown-Welty, KMIR-KPSE My Tv, Alpha Media, and World Gym.
About HARC
HARC, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing research and evaluation services related to health and wellness. HARC is funded in part by grants, donations, and customized research and evaluation services. HARC is located at the University of California, Riverside Palm Desert Center. More information can be obtained by calling HARC at (760) 404-1945, or visiting the organization's website at www.HARCdata.org.