L to R: Marian Uhlman, Alanna Gardner, Wendell Holland, Tracy Davidson, Todd Irwin, and Christian Crosby at the Health Hero Challenge reception on November 27. Photo credit Theresa Regan.
On November 27, Independence Blue Cross VP Marketing Koleen Cavanaugh joined Philadelphia magazine and Be Well Philly to celebrate the finalists and winners of the 2018 Be Well Philly Health Hero Challenge. Sponsored by Independence, the Health Hero Challenge honors people from throughout our region who are working to make their communities healthier.
The editors at Be Well Philly received over 400 nominations, and after narrowing it down to 10 semi-finalists, then three finalists, a winner was announced at the Pyramid Club among an enthusiastic crowd of 2018 semi-finalists, past winners, and health industry pros.
L to R: Philadelphia magazine Publisher Ashley Patterson, Health Hero VIP winner Tracy Davidson, Health Hero winner Todd Irwin, and Independence VP Marketing Koleen Cavanaugh. Photo credit Theresa Regan.
This year’s winner, Todd Irwin, is the president of the board of directors and a volunteer pilot for Angel Flight East, an organization that provides free medical transportation for those needing to travel to access care. As the Health Hero Challenge winner, Irwin received a $10,000 donation to his charity of choice, Angel Flight East.
Two runners-up receive $2,500 donations to their charities:
- Alanna Gardner. Fitness trainer, therapist at Philadelphia MFT, and spokesperson for the American Heart Association.
- Marian Uhlman. Co-founder and executive director of Healthy NewsWorks, an organization that empowers elementary and middle school students to become researchers and writers who support the spread of health information and literacy through publishing and digital media.
Be Well Philly also honored a local icon with the Health Hero VIP (Very Influential Philadelphian) award for going above and beyond to make a healthy impact on our community. NBC10 morning anchor Tracy Davidson won the VIP vote and took home $2,500 for her charity, Philadelphia Freedom Valley YMCA.