More than 400 employees made their way to the SAC Ballroom A on October 19 to take part in Healthier U and Human Resources’ Employee Wellness and Benefits Fair. The event — the first of its kind — featured everything from free flu shots to blood pressure screenings, chair yoga, meditation sessions, pet therapy, a photo gallery and much more.
There were raffles and prizes, popcorn and healthy snacks, and live music, courtesy of Stony Brook’s Music and Medicine student organization.
There were also opportunities to network and mingle, with more than 50 tables providing information from Stony Brook and community health-related organizations. One highlight was a table where new colleagues were welcomed to our campus community with specially designed buttons to wear.
The idea, said Healthier U Director Cathrine Duffy, was “to bring together partners on our collective health and wellness journey. We wanted to give employees the opportunity to learn about resources available to balance and prioritize their mental and physical well-being, both in and outside the workplace.”
And the idea, said co-organizer Kristen Blandi, manager of Employee Benefits, was nothing short of phenomenally successful.
“The entire HR organization couldn’t be more pleased with both the turnout and engagement,” Blandi said.
Based on feedback from many participants, Duffy said there is the hope to have similar, recurring events as well as more ongoing fitness and wellness-related Healthier U offerings throughout the year.
— Ellen Cooke
View more photos of the event (courtesy of John Griffin and Ellen Cooke):
Thank you Cathrine Duffy for hosting such a much needed resource fair for our Seawolf family.