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Bell Helicopter, Supported by Wellness Partner Matria Healthcare, Wins 2004 Champions in Health Award

At the Health Industry Council's 2004 Awards Banquet, Arlington Mayor, Robert Cluck, M.D., presented Fort Worth based Bell Helicopter the Champions in Health award for a Large Employer. The annual award recognizes outstanding workplace wellness programs in the Dallas/Fort Worth community.

"Each winner represents a comprehensive wellness program that provides a successful model for other organizations looking to gain control of rising health care costs," shares Nancy Williams, President of the Health Industry Council. Over the past four years, Bell Helicopter has partnered with Matria Healthcare to drive its corporate wellness program Well@Bell to achieve amazing success. In spite of a highly dispersed employee population in a heavy manufacturing environment, Bell Helicopter has seen the percentage of employees at risk due to physical inactivity plummet from 83% to 30%. Smokers now represent only 9% of the population and numbers continue to shrink. "We believe a strong wellness program will not only help keep our healthcare costs in control, but more importantly, our approach to wellness goes a long to keep all of the members of the Bell family as healthy as possible," explains Mark Simeroth, Benefits Manager at Bell Helicopter.

The secret to their success is in the incentive program and in the strong corporate support. Employees earn Wellness Credits for participating in seminars, physical activity and nutrition challenges, having a physical or blood work done, learning CPR, taking leadership roles on the Wellness Committees, and much more. In an economy where corporate healthcare costs have exploded 59% since 2000, hats off to Bell Helicopter and their employees who are stepping up to the plate and taking control of their own health! Bell Helicopter, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, and a subsidiary of Textron, Inc., is a $1.6 billion leading producer of commercial and military helicopters, and the pioneer of the revolutionary tilt rotor aircraft. Globally recognized for customer service, innovation and superior quality, Bell's global workforce of over 8,000 employees serves customers flying Bell aircraft in over 120 countries. www.bellhelicopter.com

The Health Industry Council, a non-profit corporation headquartered in Irving, Texas, serves as a catalyst for the growth and development of all segments of the health industry in Dallas/Fort Worth. The 160 member businesses gather and update pertinent health industry data, strengthen the health care sector, and promote DFW health industry.