Top ‘Thrive Across America’ Performers Recognized with Awards

County Wellness Coordinator William Erese recognizes Yvette Maclean as a top female performer in the Thrive Across America program. She received an insulated lunch bag. Maclean has lost more than 60 pounds since last year by working out at the gym everyday and eating healthier foods. She hopes to lose another 50 pounds.

They’re running, swimming and dancing. A lot. 

The goal was to get moving and County employees participating in Thrive Across America have logged more than 2.2 million minutes of exercise since the activity program began in mid-July. Employees can exercise in a long list of different ways under the program rules and then log in their activity time online. 

Last week, the Department of Human Resources gave awards to top performing teams and individuals for the first six weeks of the program. A total of 28 teams and 20 individuals were recognized and awarded with Thrive Across America themed T-shirts and insulated lunch bags. Both were light green colored and decorated with the wording, “Thrive,” in white. The program runs through September and is offered in partnership with Kaiser Permanente, one of the County’s health care providers.

To view a complete list of the top performers, click here.

Another round of awards will go to the overall top performers after the program comes to an end, said William Erese, wellness coordinator in the Department of Human Resources. Erese is coordinating the Thrive Across America program and also participating in it himself.

A total of 1,455 County employees are participating in Thrive Across America, with the vast majority actively engaged, logging in their times three or four times a week, Erese said. As of Thursday, participants had logged a total of 2,245,232 minutes of activity, which Erese said is the equivalent of walking around the earth almost two times. Among the activities that count towards exercise time: aerobics, badminton, bouldering, kickboxing, fencing, fly fishing, figure skating, jogging, horseback riding, running, kayaking, mountain biking, yoga, zumba, swimming, surfing and tai chi.

Individuals can still join the program, but the deadline has passed for teams to join. Erese said the County expects to offer the program again next year.

For more information, visit www.thriveacrossamerica.com or look at the “Employee Wellness Program” section on InSite.