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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, United States Department of Health and Human
3 Services Secretary, Michael Leavitt, announced that Provena
4 St. Mary's Hospital (PSMH) is one of ten nationwide winners of
5 the Third Annual Innovation in Prevention Awards for its
6 Wellness Center for Special Needs Fitness Program (Wellness
7 Center), which is dedicated to providing fitness and general
8 inclusion activities for the mentally and physically
9 challenged; and
 
10     WHEREAS, The Innovation in Prevention Awards were created
11 as part of President Bush's HealthierUS Initiative and the
12 United States Department of Health and Human Services'
13 continuing focus on preventing chronic disease and improving
14 the lives of Americans; and
 
15     WHEREAS, The awards highlight businesses and organizations
16 that are leading efforts to promote healthier lifestyles in
17 seven different areas; the PSMH Wellness Center was honored in
18 the faith-based and community-based initiatives category; and
 
19     WHEREAS, Based in Kankakee, PSMH's Wellness Center works to
20 provide physical activity for individuals with special needs to
21 reduce their risk of heart disease, diabetes, and falls, as
22 well as their dependence on others; participants meet with an
23 instructor in groups of six to fifteen twice a week for
24 forty-five minutes of fitness instruction, including
25 cardiovascular exercise and strength training; workouts in the
26 program are kept as structured as possible in order to chart
27 individual development and ensure full body involvement; and
 
28     WHEREAS, According to Secretary Leavitt, "Provena St.
29 Mary's Wellness Center Special Needs Fitness Program addresses
30 the important need to provide physical activities for
31 individuals with special needs, a population that is often

 

 

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1 underserved"; Secretary Leavitt also found the Wellness Center
2 to be an example of how persons with mental and physical
3 disabilities can be encouraged to lead healthy lives; and
 
4     WHEREAS, The Wellness Center is part of PSMH's mission to
5 compassionately respond to human need by providing fitness
6 opportunities and community inclusion to those otherwise not
7 served; PSMH has maintained the Wellness Center for the past
8 five years and has helped enrich the lives of its participants
9 and PSMH's members and staff; PSMH members and staff hope that
10 the success of the Wellness Center continues to grow so that
11 its benefits can be offered to more individuals who need
12 additional health activities in their life; therefore, be it
 
13     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
14 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
15 we congratulate Provena St. Mary's Hospital on winning an
16 Innovation in Prevention Award for its Wellness Center for
17 Special Needs Fitness Program; and be it further
 
18     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
19 presented to Provena St. Mary's Hospital as an expression of
20 our respect and esteem.