![Wellness Works Coordinator John Fairchild and Liberty's AVP of Human Resources David Brown at the PBJ Awards Ceremony.](https://blog.libertylutheran.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/157-300x225.jpg)
Liberty Lutheran is one of the Healthiest Employers of Greater Philadelphia for the second year in a row, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Liberty was recognized at an awards breakfast on June 4, 2015 for creating a culture of health in the workplace, while improving lives and cutting healthcare costs, along with several other Philadelphia-area employers of various sizes and industries. Liberty was among 13 organizations that received the honor in the 500-1499 employee category.
The awards distinguish businesses that proactively take steps to make their workers healthy and happy. Honorees were chosen based off of a 65-question survey scored by the Healthiest Employers’ index scale. The questionnaire rated participants on a variety of factors like communication, foundational components, strategic planning and more.
The awards ceremony was held on the campus of Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, where Craig Ely, Philadelphia Business Journal Editor-in-Chief told the audience, “Congrats for creating a better quality of life for your employees.”
![Fitness Coordinator April Salinas with a staff nurse working out at The Village at Penn State](https://blog.libertylutheran.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/april-salinas-VPS-200x300.jpg)
Started in 2007, Liberty Lutheran’s Wellness Works is committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and supporting disease prevention and self-care, through on-going education and activities. Wellness Works is staffed with a team of full-time, degreed wellness coaches that are dedicated to strengthening employees’ seven “pillars” of health: physical, financial, spiritual, emotional, social, intellectual and environmental.
Wellness Works challenges include – month-long activities such as the “sleep well” challenge, couch to 5K, a walking challenge, stress management, financial fitness, among others. There is a “transformational challenge,” which coaches participants as they work to improve body composition over the course of a year.
David Brown, Liberty Lutheran’s Associate Vice President Human Resources and Wellness Works Coordinator John Fairchild accepted the award at the event on Liberty’s behalf.
![Wellness Works Coach Jarret McGahee](https://blog.libertylutheran.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/jarret-wellness-works-coach-150x150.jpg)
“Our Wellness Works program creates health and wellness tools that have proven highly beneficial to employees and their families. It is tremendously rewarding to me, my staff and for Liberty to help guide staff toward healthier, more active lifestyles,” Fairchild said.
“At Liberty I feel especially proud to offer such a positive and innovative program,” Brown added. “Our employees are the foundation of our service and taking care of them in a way that benefits their health and wellness only makes sense!”