Facebook Health!

By Emily Hosinski - United Way Project Coordinator

An important part of my job is to play on Facebook.  Jealous?  No, they don’t let me play Farmville all day; I administer the United Way of Southwest Michigan Facebook page!

Social media has revolutionized how non-profit organizations interact with the community.  A recent study showed that around 89% of charitable organizations are using some form of social media in their marketing.  Why?  It’s a free and easy way to connect and inform!

Throughout the months of April and May, our Facebook content will be focusing on HEALTH…because without your health, nothing else matters.  United Way is working to give people the resources they need to make healthier choices for themselves and their children.

Internally, the UWSM staff is embarking on our own “Spring Tune-Up” initiative.  We began on 4/11/11 with Health Screenings provided by Lakeland HealthCare which measured weight, evaluated body composition, and checked blood pressure and cholesterol levels.   We’ll go through this process again in 10 weeks to gauge our progress.

Next week we’ll begin weekly yoga sessions and walking time.  We’re also having an office-wide ergonomics check of our work stations.  In general, we’re working to raise our own awareness about making healthy choices. 

With Facebook, not only can we share our experience with the community but we can also start a conversation about health and find out how other organizations encourage their staff to be healthy.  What do you do to stay fit?  How do you work a 40-hour week and still find time for physical activity?  What’s a normal amount of sleep to be getting each night?  What tips can share about maintaining a healthy diet when money is tight or time is short?  Tell us - we really do want to know!

Another reason to be thinking about health right now – Girls on the Run 2011 has begun!  United Way of Southwest Michigan brought the Girls on the Run program to Berrien County in 2009.  Don’t know about Girls on the Run?  You’re already on our website…look to the right….higher…yep, right there.  Click on “Girls on the Run” under QUICK LINKS and you can find out everything you want to know.  The bottom line is that it’s a great program that ties physical fitness and self-esteem in with making healthy life choices.  With the culminating 5K event approaching on May 26, it’s a great time to be thinking about our own health and the choices we make. 

How do I LIVE UNITED?  On Facebook, baby.