Brock, Schechter & Polakoff, LLP
The MFL Program has assisted the Brock, Schechter & Polakoff, LLP Wellness Program in motivating and energizing our office. Each May we begin our 10-week MFL Program with a kickoff mile walk to a favorite restaurant. Then we incorporate training programs for firm sponsored charitable walks and marathons during the 10-week period. As a special bonus, this year the firm's partners have pledged to give each employee who reaches their MFL goal a gift certificate to a sporting goods store so they may continue their fitness program with new equipment, clothing or sneakers.

The MFL Program is a great way to increase one's awareness to his or her physical activity level and overall health. The program not only gives the coordinator the needed structure, but also allows the flexibility to shape the program into a successful one that works with a company's existing culture. We consistently have over 85% firm wide participation in the program and look forward to each May when the program begins again.
Mary Ellen Myers, SPHR, Director of Human Resources
(716) 854-5034 or MEM@bspcpa.com

Beechwood Continuing Care
Beechwood Continuing Care provides a continuum of long-term care which includes independent, intermediate, rehabilitative and skilled nursing services. It is comprised of the Beechwood Residence which opened in 1964, followed by the Beechwood Nursing Home in 1973, Blocher Homes which admitted their first resident in 1906 and joined the Beechwood Homes in 1977, the Wesley Rehabilitation Center opened in January 1996 and Asbury Pointe an independent senior retirement community opened in January 2000. With all the homes combined there are over 500 staff members. The MOVE 4 LIFE! Campaign began on May 9, 2001 and was completed on July 18, 2001 for a total of 10 weeks. We started with 139 participants with 120 completing the program and 108 achieving their goal.

Comments from staff about the program:
"You feel better about yourself when you feel in control of your eating habits. Enjoyed moderate physical activity."

"I loved being part of this team."

"It was great fun and gave me motivation to continue on."

"Can't wait to do it again."

"Setting a personal goal and making a commitment really encouraged exercise, especially when it looked like I wouldn't make my goal by the 10th week!" This participant exceeded her goal!"

"I believe this program stimulated me to exercise and made me aware of my everyday routine."

"Being in this program motivated me to workout everyday."

"It was motivating to be part of a group -all working towards a common goal."

Kathy Duke, Beechwood MFL Coordinator,
(716) 504-1898 or kduke@beechwoodcare.org

CDPHP
Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP) has been providing quality health care to the community for more than 17 years. Founded and guided by physicians, CDPHP currently serves members in 24 counties in New York State. In spring 2001, CDPHP launched the program and 141 employees participated with 65% finishing the program and 69% met or exceeded their goal. Now four weeks into the fall 2001 term, CDPHP's MOVE 4 LIFE! program has 86 employees involved. John Collins, CDPHP VP of medical affairs and Move for Life participant remarked, "From a personal standpoint, MOVE 4 LIFE! gives me the added incentive to keep moving. From a physician's view, I am so pleased that our organization is involved in this program so our employees can stay active and healthy!"
Robin Brown, CDPHP MOVE 4 LIFE! Coordinator,
(518) 641-3251 or rbrown@cdphp.com.

City of Buffalo:
The City of Buffalo has participated in the MOVE 4 LIFE! program since 1999. Recently, the program was implemented from April - June 2001 with 292 employees signing up, 267 employees completing the program and 90% meeting or exceeding their physical activity goals. Nancy P., participant and captain of the team "Ryan's Hope" (named after the team's commissioner Joseph Ryan) stated "The MOVE 4 LIFE! Program was a great motivational tool, a stress reliever, and just plain fun".
Amy Forrest, City of Buffalo MFL Coordinator,
(716) 851-4052 or aforrest@city-buffalo.org.

Fisher Price:
Fisher Price - East Aurora, NY participated in the MOVE 4 LIFE! program in 2001. It was a successful program. We geared the program toward our highly inactive members and we also had a few members participate who were already active. Overall, 26 people participated with 21 completing the program. Seventeen either met or exceeded their point goal and only 4 did not meet their goal. Five people did not finish the program. After the program ended, we found that many of the participants continued to stay physically active and many of them began using the Fitness Place (our fitness facility) on a regular basis. Although we didn't have many people participate in the MOVE 4 LIFE! Program, the program did help our members to accomplish the goal of becoming physically active and continuing to be active.
Geoff Heusinger, Fisher Price MFL Coordinator,
(716) 687-3434 or Geoff.Heusinger@Fisher-Price.com.

Independent Health:
For more than 20 years, Independent Health has been one of the country's leading managed health care companies. 2001 was the first year we implemented MOVE 4 LIFE! with our employees in-house. 147 employees entered the contest, 54 completed the contest and of those that completed, 77% met or exceed their goal. Sally M. wrote "I just wanted to tell you that this was a great program to get me motivated to start walking/dancing again....i used to walk 4 miles a day..then a lot happened..including knee surgery..foot surgery..arthritis..plus gaining much weight..so i wasn't able to walk for quite some time....now ..i have lost about 30 lbs..( Still have more to go )..but really just could not get back in the habit of walking...being that with your program we only had to do 10 minutes to earn a point..i felt i could handle it..and i found that my hip did not even burn like it had when i tried to walk before losing the weight...so i'm now up to 20-30 minutes of walking with no problem at all...i go whenever i have a free lunch hour..3-4 times a week.....just wanted to let you know that it really got me "moving"...thanks.
Renee Sykes, Independent Health MFL Coordinator,
(716) 635-4992 or Rsykes@independenthealth.com.

Kaleida Health:
The largest and most comprehensive healthcare delivery system in Western New York, is also committed to wellness and disease prevention. For three years Kaleida has challenged its employees to "walk the talk" when it comes to wellness by participating in MOVE 4 LIFE!. For three years our employees have accepted the challenge, forming teams, electing whooping 94% met or exceeded their personal goal and committed continued physical activity as part of their lifestyle. According to Connie Krasinski, COO Millard Fillmore-Gates Circle, "This was the best program I have ever participated in. It was not only easy and effective, but fun. Thanks a million!"
Dr. Gary C. Brice, Assistant Vice President, Community Health and Wellness, MOVE 4 LIFE! Coordinator,
(716) 843-7584 or gbrice@kaleidahealth.org.