Community Health Partners with Come Alive Outside! By Jill Jesso-White on November 15, 2017 in Community Health News Come Alive Outside to Expand Programs this Winter Come Alive Outside, a nonprofit organization based in Rutland, will produce the 100 Miles, 100 Days Walking Challenge again this winter, as well as a Winter Passport for 1,200 elementary students in Rutland County. The programs are possible through the continued support of the Rutland Regional Medical Center, Vermont Department of Health and Carpenter & Costin, as well as the recent support of The Heritage Family Credit Union (HFCU), Community Health Centers of the Rutland Region (CHCRR) and VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region. “When like-minded organizations come together to better the community, there’s nothing they can’t do!” said Ron Cioffi, CEO and executive director of the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region. “We are excited to partner with Come Alive Outside and other organizations who believe like we do, that fostering healthy communities is more than just healing them when they are ill, but encouraging them to live each moment to the fullest.” In the summer of 2017, Come Alive Outside piloted a Summer Passport program with four hundred K-second-grade students at Northeast and Northwest Elementary Schools. Using their passports, students earned points and prizes for finding secret codes when visiting local parks, farmers markets and community events. “The positive response from students and parents for the Summer Passport this year was overwhelming,” said Andy Paluch, program director for Come Alive Outside. “Our mission is to inspire community partners to work together in ways that remind people how much fun it is to spend time outside. The passport is an awesome way to do this, and adds a little bit of extra incentive for folks to get out to their favorite parks, as well as exploring new places and events in the community.” 500 Residents • 100 Miles • 100 Days Challenge Over 500 Rutland County residents participated in the 100 Miles, 100 Days Challenge this summer, walking a mile per day for one hundred days and tracking their progress. “In total, participants ended up walking over 24,000 miles through the program, which is enough to go all the way around the earth!” Paluch said. “With both 100 Miles and the Passport program, there’s something kind of addicting about tracking your progress that is really valuable in helping to establish new habits and behaviors.” Carrie Allen, senior vice president at HFCU says, Heritage Family Credit Union’s vision is Families Prospering Through Cooperation. “We can think of no better example of cooperation, to support healthy living, than Come Alive Outside, and are so proud to be partnering with them and other community sponsors to support these programs,” Allen said. “CHCRR is very excited to be joining an organization like Come Alive Outside that focuses on the health and wellbeing of the community, said Jill Jesso-White from CHCRR. “As the largest provider of primary care in Rutland County we felt like a partnership with this group would help us achieve our mission.” Come Alive Outside aims to launch the 100 Miles, 100 Days and Winter Passport programs in early January. Come Alive Outside
