SMS’ 2020 Fitness Challenge for Charity

This summer, SMS partnered with Cigna to beat the quarantine blues by engaging SMS employees and family members to participate in a 6-week fitness challenge. The challenge encouraged friendly competition between colleagues and teams to see who had the most fitness activity each week.  Participants won badges, participated in a little competitive banter, and were entered in eight weekly gift card drawings.

SMS’ Kirtland Air Force Base Team ABQ placed first overall and donated their $1,500 winnings to The Autism Society of America. On August 17th, the team, led by Team Captain Miguel Marquez, presented the donation check to the society. The Autism Society works to ensure that individuals and families affected by autism are able to maximize their quality of life, are treated with the highest level of dignity, and live in a society in which their talents and skills are appreciated and valued. The team won the challenge with 6,251 points which were earned based on the total number of fitness minutes and various types of activity the team participated in throughout the challenge.

SMS’ Hanscom Air Force Base team We’re Social Discoing placed second in the challenge and donated their $1,500 winnings to St. Ann’s Home & School in Methuen, Massachusetts. St. Ann’s offers private day programs and residential services designed to nurture, rehabilitate and support children and adolescents. On August 26^th the team, led by Regional Operations Manager and Team Captain, Peggy Brennan, presented the donation check to St. Ann’s CEO Mr. Joseph Cronin and Director of Development, Mr. John Rice. Shawn M. Silva-Cosgrove, SMS’ Deputy Program Manager at Hanscom AFB and long-time supporter of St Ann’s, commented, “The fitness challenge was a great way to bring the SMS Hanscom team together to do something not only for themselves, but for the community, and more specifically a wonderful place like St. Ann’s Home and School.” Ms. Brennan added, “The fitness challenge gave us a chance to do something productive while also growing closer as a team. Knowing that we were successful in landing in the top two in this competition and contributing to a wonderful organization such as St. Ann’s made it all worthwhile.”

Melanie Shipley, SMS’ VP of Human Resources and organizer of the event commented, “Wellness and engagement has been key to healthy and productive employees during the pandemic. The SMS Fitness Challenge allowed employees to stay fit, challenge colleagues, and support their favorite charity all at the same time!”