Why launch the Work for Wellness Campaign Now?
There is general agreement in America on the goal of making quality health-care at an affordable price accessible to
everyone. However, to achieve this goal will require new ways of dealing with the various aspects of the health-care issue in
America. With a new Administration and Congress committed to universal coverage, there is a renewed focus on prevention
because given the rise in chronic disease and associated cost, simply treating the sick is financially unsustainable. No
approach to universal quality care will work without better prevention. Given the important role companies play in the provision
of health-care to their employees, the time employees spend at work, and the spiraling cost of health-care to employers, there
is an emerging consensus that companies must be a part of any effective, long-term prevention effort.
Now is the time to launch the Work for Wellness Campaign. The availability of innovative programs coupled with the renewed
interest companies have in prevention presents us with a unique opportunity to build support for workplace initiatives that
target chronic disease.
Who is Abner Mason?
Abner is a workplace wellness advocate and expert, and will lead the Work for Wellness national campaign. As Founder and
CEO of Corporate Responsibility Partners, Abner is a leader in the effort to help companies identify, implement and evaluate
workplace wellness programs that take advantage of the latest technology and best practices to improve employee health and
lower health-care cost. Through Corporate Responsibility Partners, Abner has developed and will soon launch the Workplace
Wellness Business Council of Mexico, which will provide member companies with access to cutting edge workplace wellness
programs and a forum to share best practices.
Abner has extensive experience working with companies to develop policies that address important issues that affect the
health of their employees. As Founder and Executive Director of AIDS Responsibility Project, Abner led the successful efforts
to create CONAES and JaBCHA, the first business councils on HIV/AIDS in Mexico and Jamaica. Both councils have grown in
both membership and outreach and now serve as effective platforms for their member companies to take a leadership role in
the fight against HIV. (For more information http://www.abnermason.com/ARP-pg1.html)
Abner also has extensive experience leading a successful national advocacy campaign. In 2006 he led the Test for Life
campaign. The goal of Test for Life was to bring together individuals, AIDS activist, AIDS organizations, companies, elected
officials, the medical community, church groups and others to educate the public about the importance of HIV testing, and the
need for testing to become a part of routine medical care in the United States. As part of Test for Life, over a six month period,
Abner moderated a series of 7 Townhall meetings in 7 states across the country, including Iowa City, Iowa, Atlanta, Georgia,
Houston, Texas, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Nashville, Tennessee, Columbus, Ohio and Sacramento, CA.
The Test for Life Townhall meetings brought together key stake-holders to develop strategies to implement newly released
Centers for Disease Control recommendations on HIV testing. The Test for Life campaign was sponsored by the National
Minority Quality Forum (for more information on Test for Life see http://www.abnermason.com/I-AM-Test-For-Life2.html). The
Test for Life campaign was a great success in large part because we were able to take the message “on the road”, which
provided us access to key decision makers and opinion leaders who would other-wise have been difficult to reach.
In addition, Abner has successfully used the media, music and film to communicate education, prevention and advocacy
messages. In 2004 he developed a documentary film called "Stepping Up - America Responds to Global AIDS". The film
highlighted the need for US leadership in the global fight against HIV and was screened on Capital Hill for congressional staff
and key policy makers, and during the 2004 World AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Finally, copies of the film were
provided to every congressional office.
In 2006, as part of the "Start the Conversation" initiative, Abner developed "AWHARE", a music CD of 12 songs targeted at
young people most at risk for HIV infection. The group of artist Abner brought together performed live concerts across the
country and the CD was provided to prevention workers and educators who work with young people.
What Audiences will the Work for Wellness Campaign Target?
The Work for Wellness Campaign will last for 12 months and has two objectives. First we will educate corporate decision
makers and opinion leaders about the dramatic rise in chronic disease and its effect on employee health and health-care cost.
Second, we will discuss how the implementation of wellness programs utilizing the latest technologies can improve employee
health, lower cost, and demonstrate a companies commitment to being a socially responsible company. Third, we will create a
“focus opportunity” for otherwise busy professionals where they can discuss, develop strategies and make a commitment to
implementing wellness programs for their companies and their employees.
To reach our target audiences, Abner will speak at corporate meetings, conventions and media events. In a special effort to
reach future business leaders, Abner will take the Work for Wellness Campaign to the top 10 business schools to engage
business students in a discussion about what role the private sector should play to improve health, encourage prevention and
control cost.
Subject to funding, two events per month are planned.
What Key Messages will Abner Deliver?
Depending on the venue, Abner will deliver a formal speech, an informal talk, a power-point presentation, or serve as a
panelist. Although the format will change, the key messages will always include an overview of the chronic disease epidemic in
the United States, the high cost of chronic disease to individuals, companies and government, the need for prevention, the
need for companies to be part of any sustainable solution to our health-care challenges, and a discussion of workplace
wellness best practices including specific examples.
What Specific Benefits will Work for Wellness Campaign Sponsors Receive?
Work for Wellness Campaign sponsors will receive the following.
1) Acknowledgement as a sponsor in the brochure that will be distributed at every Work for Wellness Campaign presentation.
2) Acknowledgment as a sponsor on the Work for Wellness Campaign website and have their wellness programs or related
products highlighted. (see www.workforwellnesscampaign.com)
3) Acknowledgement as a sponsor in professionally produced Public Service Announcements about the chronic disease
epidemic in America that will serve as the Work for Wellness Campaign video introduction, and be given to sponsors and
companies for their use. These PSAs will also be offered to local stations for broadcast.
4) The opportunity to select two events at which Abner will speak.
For more information on sponsorship opportunities contact Abner at 310-779-3482.
Abner Mason
CEO, Corporate Responsibility Partners
"better health through workplace wellness"
"This is a time of
transformation for
American health-care. The
move toward universal
coverage along with the rise
in chronic disease
highlights the need for
prevention. If our system
remains narrowly focused
on treating the sick rather
than keeping people well,
the financial cost are
unsustainable. Now is the
time to integrate prevention
into our way of thinking as
never before, and through
workplace wellness
programs, the private sector
can help lead the way."
transformation for
American health-care. The
move toward universal
coverage along with the rise
in chronic disease
highlights the need for
prevention. If our system
remains narrowly focused
on treating the sick rather
than keeping people well,
the financial cost are
unsustainable. Now is the
time to integrate prevention
into our way of thinking as
never before, and through
workplace wellness
programs, the private sector
can help lead the way."
The Work for Wellness Campaign
"laying the groundwork for a revolution in workplace wellness"
| RADIO INTERVIEW World AIDS Day Radio Interview with Abner Mason |
Abner Mason with other
speakers at the World
Economic Forum's 2009
Latin America Conference in
Rio de Janeiro. Abner spoke
about how to build effective
public-private partnerships
that allow companies to take
a leadership role in the fight
against chronic disease.
speakers at the World
Economic Forum's 2009
Latin America Conference in
Rio de Janeiro. Abner spoke
about how to build effective
public-private partnerships
that allow companies to take
a leadership role in the fight
against chronic disease.
Abner Mason delivering
opening remarks at the
Columbus, Ohio Test for
Life Townhall Meeting. The
Ohio Townhall was held on
World AIDS Day,
December 1, 2006 in the
Great Hall of the Ohio
State Capital Building.
opening remarks at the
Columbus, Ohio Test for
Life Townhall Meeting. The
Ohio Townhall was held on
World AIDS Day,
December 1, 2006 in the
Great Hall of the Ohio
State Capital Building.
ARP Executive Director
Abner Mason presenting
the ARP Leadership Award
to US Senator Arlen
Specter at the ARP "Renew
the Battle" event in
Washington, DC in 2005..
Abner Mason presenting
the ARP Leadership Award
to US Senator Arlen
Specter at the ARP "Renew
the Battle" event in
Washington, DC in 2005..
| Liberty Education Forum Speech on Prevention |
What is the Work for Wellness Campaign?
The Work for Wellness campaign is designed to
encourage companies to take a leadership role in the
fight against chronic disease and spiraling health-care
cost by implementing workplace wellness programs that
target the major causes of poor health including diabetes,
obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
and HIV. Through a series of presentations held at
company meetings, corporate events and conventions
across the country, workplace wellness advocate Abner
Mason will educate corporate decision makers and
opinion leaders about how workplace wellness programs
can improve employee health and lower health-care cost
for employers. Drawing on his extensive experience
working with companies on wellness programs, Abner will
discuss best practices in workplace wellness, and why a
company’s workplace wellness program will be one of the
key measures of good corporate citizenship in the years
ahead.
The Work for Wellness campaign is designed to
encourage companies to take a leadership role in the
fight against chronic disease and spiraling health-care
cost by implementing workplace wellness programs that
target the major causes of poor health including diabetes,
obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
and HIV. Through a series of presentations held at
company meetings, corporate events and conventions
across the country, workplace wellness advocate Abner
Mason will educate corporate decision makers and
opinion leaders about how workplace wellness programs
can improve employee health and lower health-care cost
for employers. Drawing on his extensive experience
working with companies on wellness programs, Abner will
discuss best practices in workplace wellness, and why a
company’s workplace wellness program will be one of the
key measures of good corporate citizenship in the years
ahead.
| VIDEO RELEASE Start the Conversation Electronic Press Kit www.tysonfitzgerald.com |
AUDIO form DC SPEECH
| MUSIC CD LAUNCH Start the Conversation Project Live concert series |
| MUSIC CD SAMPLER Start the Conversation |
PAST SUCCESSFUL OUTREACH INITIATIVES |
| DOCUMENTARY FILM EXCERPTS America Responds to Global AIDS |
National Speaking Tour to Promote Workplace Wellness
| VIDEO Abner Mason on Workplace Wellness |
Abner Mason moderating
Nashville, Tennessee Test
for Life Townhall Meeting
on HIV Testing. The
Nashville Townhall was held
on the campus of Meharry
Medical College.
Nashville, Tennessee Test
for Life Townhall Meeting
on HIV Testing. The
Nashville Townhall was held
on the campus of Meharry
Medical College.
| Contact Abner Mason |
Thank you for your interest in the Work for Wellness
Campaign. Please contact us if you have questions
about our work, or have an event you would like
included in the Campaign schedule. We look
forward to working with you to build support for
workplace wellness programs.
Work for Wellness Campaign schedule of events will
be posted soon.
Campaign. Please contact us if you have questions
about our work, or have an event you would like
included in the Campaign schedule. We look
forward to working with you to build support for
workplace wellness programs.
Work for Wellness Campaign schedule of events will
be posted soon.
LINKS