TIVITY HEALTH, INC.
CHANDLER, Ariz., Aug. 09, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SilverSneakers® by Tivity Health (NASDAQ:TVTY) announced today the national winner of the 2017 SilverSneakers Richard L. Swanson Inspiration Award. Barbara McGirr, from Kettering, Ohio, has been named the national winner of the 13th annual award. The award honors a SilverSneakers member who has improved their life through fitness, health and well-being, while inspiring and motivating others along the way.
McGirr started the SilverSneakers program at LA Fitness through her Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield health insurance plan to keep her mind and body in shape. A firm believer that physical health is connected to mental health, McGirr, now 66, exercises regularly and set a goal to run her first half marathon at age 62. After training for six months, she accomplished her goal and continues to compete in 4K and 5K races. Through SilverSneakers, she continues to exercise to keep her heart healthy.
McGirr and nine other SilverSneakers members were selected as finalists for the award and a public, online vote determined the national winner. McGirr’s inspiring story received more than one-third of the votes.
“Barbara’s inspiring story is a powerful reminder that we can set and reach new health and fitness goals at any age,” said Donato Tramuto, Tivity Health CEO. “Her story and the hundreds of stories we received through the nomination process highlight the impact SilverSneakers has on the lives of our members. From physical transformations to overcoming health challenges to reaching new fitness goals, SilverSneakers helps members improve their health, happiness and well-being.”
“Barbara’s commitment to her health is an inspiration to us all,” said David McNichols, president of Anthem Medicare central region. “Barbara is an example of why Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio offers programs, such as SilverSneakers, to our Medicare Advantage members. Through these programs, we are providing consumers access to high quality, affordable health care services, enabling them to take control of their health and live the life they’ve earned.”
The Richard L. Swanson Inspiration Award honors a SilverSneakers member for their inspiring fitness journey to improve their health and well-being. The award was created by SilverSneakers founder, Mary Swanson, whose father served as the inspiration for the nationally acclaimed fitness program.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, SilverSneakers is the nation’s leading community fitness program designed specifically for older Americans. SilverSneakers helps older adults take greater control of their health by engaging participants in more frequent exercise, strength training, aerobics and flexibility training through a variety of venues and programming.
The program offers many specialized group exercise classes designed for all fitness levels, ranging from SilverSneakers® Classic to SilverSneakers BOOM™, and yoga. SilverSneakers provides members access to more than 13,000 fitness and wellness facilities nationwide, as well as the SilverSneakers FLEX® network, which includes more than 70 unique classes and activities at parks, recreation centers and other local venues. More than 14.5 million people are eligible for the SilverSneakers benefit offered at no cost through the nation’s leading Medicare Advantage health plans, Medicare Supplement carriers and group retiree plans.
To find out if you are eligible for SilverSneakers and for more information on the Richard L. Swanson Inspiration Award, visit SilverSneakers.com.
About SilverSneakers
SilverSneakers, by Tivity Health, is the nation’s leading community fitness program for older Americans. The program was founded in 1992 and is available to more than 14.5 million Medicare beneficiaries through many Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement carriers and group retiree plans. This year, SilverSneakers is celebrating its 25th anniversary, decades of improving the physical, social and mental health of millions of older Americans. Learn more about the program’s legacy and anniversary at silversneakers25.com, and to check eligibility or enroll, go to silversneakers.com.
About Tivity Health
Tivity Health, Inc. (NASDAQ:TVTY) is a leading provider of fitness and health improvement programs, with strong capabilities in developing and managing network solutions. Through its existing three networks, SilverSneakers® - the nation’s leading fitness program for older adults, Prime® Fitness and WholeHealth Living™, Tivity Health is focused on targeted population health for those 50 and over. With more than 14.5 million Americans eligible for SilverSneakers, over 10,000 fitness centers in the Prime Fitness Network, and more than 25 years of clinical and operational expertise in managing specialty health benefits and networks, including chiropractic services, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, acupuncture, massage and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services, the Company touches millions of consumers across the country and works directly with hundreds of healthcare practitioners and many of the nation’s largest payers and employers. Learn more at tivityhealth.com.
Contact: Margie Wojciechowski Tivity Health (480) 444-5332 Margie.wojciechowski@tivityhealth.com
