Encouraging healthy habits in Nashville with upgraded school resources
Whites Creek High School has been part of the Nashville, Tennessee community since the late 1970s — and in certain areas of the school, it shows. In an effort to help spruce the place up and show the school how much its contributions are valued, UnitedHealthcare volunteers provided some TLC to a few well-loved campus resources.
In collaboration with the Team8 Tour and the Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation, UnitedHealthcare’s “Do Good. Live Well.” employee volunteer initiative surprised students with an updated fitness space, courtyard and more.
We are really helping to transform our school into a thriving environment, which is part of our mission statement every day,” said Dr. Brian J. Mells, Whites Creek executive principal. “Our school has been here since 1978, and it has not had all of the upgrades that it has needed over the years.”
Thanks to the UnitedHealthcare volunteers who worked tirelessly for two days, students walked into a transformed weight room with new floors and equipment, a new garden in the school’s outdoor hallways and several renovations to other common areas, including the locker room.
“The new space has brought a new energy to our students and staff,” said Terry Cole, Alternative Energy and Health Sciences principal.
Students are using the weight room in their weight training, physical education and wellness classes, along with training for sports programs. Faculty and staff even formed their own workout group.
With these resources, students can foster healthy habits that create a foundation for long-term wellness. To Lauren Barca, UnitedHealthcare executive officer, Population Health, an investment in the school also means positively influencing the lives of the students who will graduate from it.
“I am hoping they will understand there are people in the community who care about them, who want to invest in their health, which is investing in their future,” Lauren said.
The Team8 Tour has engaged thousands of UnitedHealthcare employee volunteers in their efforts to encourage activity and promote healthy lifestyles in youth across the country. In fact, their service projects have reached more than 64,000 young people nationwide. It was this common goal of service and hope that led to this meaningful project.
