May 2012

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
 
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
  

Archive for the 'Community-Building' Category

Ladies: Be a Girls on the Run Coach!

Published on August 26, 2011 in Community-Building, Looking for teammates! and Walks & Runs. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

Girls on the Run of Puget Sound is now accepting coach applications for the Fall 2011 season!

Coaches do not have to be runners! Volunteer coaches work directly with the 3rd-5th grade girls in the Girls on the Run program by leading the girls through fun & active lessons while helping them prepare for the non-competitive 5K event at the end of the season. Read what past coaches have said about their experience:

“I really loved watching the girls evolve and come to be kinder and stronger to themselves and their teammates. Every young girl wants to have someone come alongside her and say, ‘Way to go! I knew you could do it!’ What a privilege to be that person in these young girls’ lives!”

“As a first-time coach I felt really supported and well-prepared by the GOTR organization and will definitely volunteer to coach another group of amazing girls!”

“[Through coaching] I was able to fulfill my person goal of being a positive influence for girls in those critical years prior to the challenges of middle school”

For more information and Frequesntly asked Questions, please click here. To download the application, please click here.

March for Babies, Diabetes Expo, Group Health Commute Challenge!

Published on April 28, 2011 in Bike Rides, Community-Building, Health & Human Service and Walks & Runs. 1 Comment

We’ll be out in force this Saturday…

Help the babies! We’ll be supporting March of Dimes at two March for Babies events. The Pierce County walk (6-mile course) will be right near the Tacoma Dome and the Greater Puget Sound walk (3-mile course) will be at the Seattle Center. Our Group Health teams will be walking in the events and we’ll also have  a Group Health ”check-point” along each route where walkers can grab an Ouch Pouch. The events begin around 8:30 a.m.
Thanks to all of our staff members who are getting out there to burn some calories and support a great cause!
I mean…look at this little guy! :)

Diabetes Awareness! We are also a major sponsor of the American Diabetes Association Diabetes Expo at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center. We’ll be hosting the Generations Zone – promoting healthy aging. It’s an amazing event that typically draws over 5,000 people. Demonstrations, giveaways, education, exercise, eye-checks, dancing and more! Stop by and come say hi at the Group Health area. We’ll be giving away Ouch Pouches and green reusable bags. Hours are 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Here are some additional highlights for the Group Health Generations Zone:
- Our own Dr. Sascha Dublin will be presenting on Healthy Aging at 9:30 a.m.
- Marcia Mitchell will be talking through Medicare 101 at 10:15 a.m.
- Silver Sneakers demo at 12:30 p.m.!
- Eye Care will be providing free eye screenings all day

Did we mention the Ouch Pouches and reusable bags??? :)


Lastly…

Get on your bike! Monday is the first day of the Group Health Commute Challenge! Have YOU signed up???

YMCA Healthy Kids Day – THIS Saturday!

Published on April 15, 2011 in Community-Building. 0 Comments

This Saturday, April 16th is nationwide YMCA Healthy Kids Day! Parents and loved ones are encouraged to “make a play date” with the kiddos – get moving, be healthy and stay connected with one another.

Group Health is a proud supporter of this important day – with more than 60 staff members (family members and friends) volunteering at seven branches throughout the region on behalf of GH.

Check out the list of locations below and stop by the branch closest to you! Group Health volunteers will be handing out Ouch Pouches and kiddie-sized jump ropes to help promote playing, exercising and healthy living. You can also see the new 2011 Group Health volunteer t-shirt, debuting THIS weekend! One could be all yours… all you have to do is…well, anything!! Volunteer, participate, walk, bike, garden, sweat, give, help… and rock a GH t-shirt while you’re at it.  

Big, HUGE thanks to all of our volunteers helping out this weekend!

1) Matt GriffinYMCA (Highline)
2) Northshore YMCA (Bothell)
3) Coal Creek Family YMCA (New Castle)
4) Meredith Mathews/East Madison (Capitol Hill)
5) Dale Turner Family YMCA (Shoreline)
6) University Family YMCA (U-District)
7) Olympia Downtown Branch YMCA (Olympia)





Introducing the Group Health Fitness Network!

Published on April 6, 2011 in Bike Rides, Community-Building, Dragon Boat/Rowing, Looking for teammates!, Soccer, Total Health, Triathlons, Updates and Walks & Runs. 2 Comments

You’ve probably heard the buzz around town. Mentions of a new website…whispers of registration discounts…murmurs of training and nutrition tips…a comprehensive list of ALL Group Health-sponsored fitness activities.  In one place.

  • One stop shopping.
  • Group Health membership saves you bucks.
  • Full engagement in your personal health journey through these cool event options.

Introducing… The Group Health Fitness Network, officially launched this week.

Check out the new web site. You can see stories, news, and a list of all events (phase two of the event calendar goes live after April 15th.) Find an event you like, and fill your “shopping cart” with the benefits and discounts that float your boat.  Once you submit the benefit packages/discounts you are interested in, you will receive an email that includes your discount codes and directs you to the actual registration pages.

Then, you come back here to post about your involvement, fundraising, and team recruiting! :)

Get moving and get connected through the Group Health Fitness Network.
(And don’t forget to log your Total Health points!)

Time to get UP and get OUT!

Published on February 3, 2011 in Community-Building, Health & Human Service, Looking for teammates! and Walks & Runs. 1 Comment

Spring is coming and it’s time to make some plans to get OUTSIDE! Group Health is sponsoring a ton of events this spring – surely you can pick a few to join! Here’s a quick preview:

Beat the Bridge! One of our major sponsorships in 2011 is the  Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation’s Beat the Bridge event on May 15th. We’ll be the medical sponsor, have a marketing booth AND have several teams participating. Our own Debbie Huntington is serving as Event Chair this year. Yay Debbie!  If you want to participate (be a team captain, volunteer, join a team) click here!

March for Babies! Premature birth is the leading cause of newborn death and many lifelong disabilities. You can help the March of Dimes fight prematurity by taking steps in March for Babies! Join other Group Health staff members raising money and walking for this important cause. If you want to participate, click here!

Relay for Life! Has Cancer touched you or a loved one? Join your fellow Group Health staff members in raising money and walking at one of the various American Cancer Society Relay for Life events around the region. If you want to participate, click here!

Immunization research team at KUOW pledge drive

Published on October 13, 2010 in Community-Building. 0 Comments
GHRI’s immunization research team members Maya Dunstan, Patty Starkovich, Joanne Greene, Do Peterson, Michelle Hill, and Hallie Phillips volunteered to answer phones on Thursday, October 7 for KUOW Radio’s pledge drive.

GHRI pitches in at KUOW's pledge drive

Girls on the Run Needs Coaches!

Published on September 16, 2010 in Community-Building and Health & Human Service. 0 Comments Tags: , , , .

Girls On the Run of Puget Sound, a nonprofit, after school empowerment program for girls aged 8-11, is seeking volunteer coaches for its fall program starting this month.

Coaches guide groups of girls in the 3rd-5th grade age, through an easy-to-follow, well researched curriculum that uses active running games to teach healthy lifestyle lessons and train the girls for a non-competitive 5k race at the end of the session. Watch what other coaches say about why they volunteer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dqwuydwl6I0

  • Volunteer coaches must be available during after-school hours.
  • Program sites meet twice a week after school, 3-5 p.m. timeframe.
  • Coaches are expected to attend every practice.
  • Each site has 2 – 4 coaches – one Head Coach and Assistant Coaches as needed.
  • The program is offered twice a year: Fall Session (September to December) and Spring Session (March to June). Each session runs for 10 weeks.
  • Head Coaches must be 21 years or older.
  • Assistant Coaches must be 16 years or older.

Group Health's Team at the Girls on the Run spring 5k

New coaches must submit an application, attend a one-hour group interview, attend a six-hour training and consent to a background check. For more information email Amber Swim amber@girlsrun.org or visit www.girlsrun.org/coaching.

Group Health’s Kent Medical Center is an official sponsor of the program. You can also contact Katie McCarthy, Girls on the Run board member, and Group Health employee: mccarthy.kx@ghc.org. There is an immediate need for the Madrona School in SeaTac, Tues.-Thurs, from 3:20-5 p.m.

Teddy Bear Clinic!

Published on August 24, 2010 in Community-Building. 1 Comment Tags: , , .

Group Health hosted a Teddy Bear Clinic at Mobius Kids Science Center in Spokane on August 12.  The clinical team was led by Group Health pediatrician, Dr. Cicely White, along with Dr. Nalini Gupta and medical student, Hannah Qualls.  Modeled after Dr. Rob Nohle’s very successful Teddy Bear Clinic at KidsQuest Children’s Museum in Seattle, the idea is to alleviate any fears children may have about going to the doctor.  Children bring their teddy bears for a check-up and get to assist with the examination.  Ears, nose, throat and fur is checked along with height and weight of the bear; an urgent care repair station completes the visit (if needed).


Group Health a finalist in Puget Sound Business Journal's Best Workplaces – PHOTOS

Published on August 13, 2010 in Community-Building. 0 Comments Tags: , , .

More than 50 staff from all over Group Health gathered in our awesome green shirts at Safeco Field, Thursday, Aug. 12 with more than 80 other companies to celebrate being a finalist in the Puget Sound Business Journal’s Best Workplaces in Washington contest.

The Puget Sound Business Journal Best Workplaces contest, now in its fourth year, identifies the area’s top employers through composite scores from a random, individual staff survey.

This year over one fifth of our staff voted in the survey. Ratings factors included team effectiveness, trust in leaders, feeling valued, and work engagement.

As you can tell from the photos below, we definitely had a presence at the event!

Pride Photo Album

Published on July 20, 2010 in Community-Building. 0 Comments

We have a few photos posted on the blog – but a gallery has also been started. Make sure to check it out, and add photos! Click here:  Picasa Pride Album