FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Aug. 27, 2020
Media Contact:
Ellen Devereux 918-527-0692
TULSA, Okla. — Pro Football Hall of Famer and sports analyst Terry Bradshaw will serve as keynote speaker for the virtual Champions of Health Awards, accessible to the public at championsofhealth.org from 4-5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020.
Presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK), the 17th annual Champions of Health Awards will honor individuals and organizations working to improve the health of Oklahomans. All sponsorship proceeds from the virtual event benefit The Oklahoma Caring Foundation, Inc. , a 501(c)(3) organization that provides Oklahoma children with immunizations at no charge through its Caring Van program.
“The Champions of Health Awards is a celebration of those making a positive impact on the health of our state through innovative programs, while supporting the vital preventive care services the Oklahoma Caring Foundation provides,” said BCBSOK President Joseph R. Cunningham, M.D. “I’m excited for Terry Bradshaw to join us virtually. I look forward to hearing about his illustrious career, his life in Oklahoma, and his personal health journey.”
Calm Waters Center for Children and Families, an Oklahoma City-based non-profit organization that helps children and families in their grief journey caused by death, divorce, or other significant loss, is the recipient of the Dr. Rodney L. Huey Memorial Champion of Oklahoma Health, the highest honor of the Champions of Health Awards. Calm Waters is being honored for its annual Camp Courage program, which provides a safe and healing environment for children to express their feelings of loss through art.
As the overall winner, Calm Waters will receive a $15,000 grant, and winners in remaining categories receive a $5,000 grant. Additional winners and finalists include:
Champion of Children’s Health Winner: Tulsa CASA, Inc.
Finalist: Pivot, A Turning Point for Youth
Champion of Senior Health Winner: Oklahoma City Indian Clinic’s Elder’s Health Program
Finalist: RSVP of Central Oklahoma
Champion of the Uninsured Winner: Oklahoma Dental Foundation
Finalist: Health Alliance for the Uninsured
Community Health Champion Winner: NewView Oklahoma’s Veteran Independence Through Adaptive Living (VITAL) Program
Finalist: Samantha McGee (Choctaw Nation’s Addressing Opioid Overdose Deaths Program)
Corporate Health Champion Winner: Jackson County Memorial Hospital*
Finalist: Goodwill Industries of Central Oklahoma’s Employee First Culture Program
*The Corporate Health Champion is ineligible to receive grant funds.
About the Keynote Speaker:
Terry Bradshaw is a four-time Super Bowl champion and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, award-winning sports broadcaster and the only NFL player with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The actor, singer and author will star with his family in the upcoming comedic docuseries, “The Bradshaw Bunch,” which will give viewers a peek into their country lifestyle on their Oklahoma ranch.
About Champions of Health:
The Champions of Health Awards is presented by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, in partnership with the Oklahoma Association of Optometric Physicians, the Oklahoma Dental Association, the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, the Oklahoma Foundation for Medical Quality, the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, the Oklahoma Hospital Association, the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association, the Oklahoma Primary Care Association, the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Oklahoma State Medical Association.
For sponsorship opportunities and to access the free virtual event, visit championsofhealth.org.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association