Governor's Fitness Awards Move to Virtual Celebration

LANSING, Mich. - Aug. 7, 2020 - PRLog -- Due to the pandemic, the Governor's Fitness Awards (GFA) have been rescheduled as a virtual awards celebration on Thursday, August 20. The show will premiere at 8:00 p.m. on the Michigan Fitness Foundation YouTube channel.

Nominations from Michiganders began last fall, and earlier this year GFA finalists were selected by a panel of judges from across the state. The finalists are:

Charles T. Kuntzleman Accepting the Challenge Award
·         Caleb Conklin, Newaygo
·         Lottie Ferguson, Mount Morris
·         Jason Parks, Holland

Active Community Award
·         City of Kalamazoo
·         City of Mackinac Island
·         City of Traverse City

Director's Champion of Health Award
·         Regina Hardy, Detroit
·         JoAnn McCollum, Ypsilanti
·         Bob Wilson, Okemos

Extraordinary Organization Award
·         Operation Fit, Battle Creek
·         Project Healthy Schools – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
·         TeamGUTS, Ferndale

Heath Star Award
·         Amy DiStefano, Ira
·         Tameka Kelly, Redford
·         Matt Laura, Jackson

Healthy Workplace Award

Large Workplace
·         Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Detroit
·         Lacks Enterprises, Inc, Kentwood
·         Spectrum Health Lakeland, St. Joseph

Medium Workplace
·         Bell's Brewery, Galesburg
·         Chem-Trend, Howell
·         Lansing Board of Water and Light, Lansing

Small Workplace
·         44North, Cadillac
·         Sturgis Fire and Police Departments, Sturgis
·         Upper Peninsula Health Plan (UPHP), Marquette

Outstanding Event Award
·         Greater Flint Olympian and CANUSA Games, Flint
·         Livonia Parkrun, Livonia
·         Meijer State Games of Michigan, Grand Rapids

Perennial Award
·         Brian and Dorie Barkey, Flint
·         Elizabeth Burt, Ann Arbor
·         Fred Price, Livonia

Vern Seefeldt Lifetime Achievement Award
·         Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom

 "Each year, we look forward to introducing the GFA finalists to our fellow Michiganders," shares Amy Ghannam, President and CEO of Michigan Fitness Foundation. "By recognizing and sharing their extraordinary stories, they influence us all to have a renewed vigor to make healthier choices."

Presented by the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports and the Michigan Fitness Foundation, the Governor's Fitness Awards recognize communities, organizations, and individuals who inspire people to eat healthy and move more where they live, work and play. For links to the show and more information, visit https://michiganfitness.org/events/governors-fitness-awards.