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Free fitness classes, walking program highlight ‘Live the Riverfront’ partnership with Detroit RiverFront Conservancy

Daniel J. Loepp

| 2 min read

Daniel J. Loepp is President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Mr. Loepp has directed sweeping initiatives and innovations that have led to a historic transformation of BCBSM and health care in Michigan. He played a major role in modernizing the state’s health care delivery system in a process that led to enactment of new laws that transformed BCBSM to become a nonprofit mutual insurance company in January 2014. Mr. Loepp has led BCBSM initiatives to improve health care quality and slow cost increases, saving nearly $1.5 billion through several programs that have garnered national attention and served as models implemented across the country. Under his leadership, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is helping to revitalize and strengthen Detroit, Grand Rapids and Lansing. In 2011 and 2012, Blue Cross moved 3,000 BCBSM employees into downtown Detroit and the company is one of the largest employers in the city’s Central Business District. In Lansing, BCBSM subsidiary AF Group transformed a long abandoned power plant into a national headquarters. Mr. Loepp has stood by a commitment that BCBSM should be a driving force for good in Michigan’s core cities. It is reflected in BCBSM’s workforce diversity and inclusion efforts, supplier partnerships and community initiatives. In his tenure, BCBSM has been named Corporation of the Year in Finance and Insurance Services nine times by the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council. The company has also been named one of America’s Top Organizations for Multi-Cultural Business Opportunities by DiversityBusiness.com and ranked five consecutive years as one of the top 10 Regional Companies for diversity by DiversityInc magazine, including being ranked No. 1 for consecutive years in 2015 and 2016. Mr. Loepp was honored as a 2016 recipient of the Edward N. McNamara Goodfellow of the Year Award. He was selected as Michiganian of the Year by The Detroit News in 2013. Mr. Loepp joined Blue Cross in 2000. In 2011, 2012 and 2013, he served as board chair of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), an organization that includes all 36 Blue Cross plans and provides health coverage to more than 106 million Americans.

The Detroit Riverfront has undergone a stunning transformation over the past decade. Formerly a neglected and mostly inaccessible place, the riverfront today is characterized by a broad, inviting pedestrian promenade that has become popular among walkers, runners, cyclers and sight-seers. Now, a new initiative I announced today with Matt Cullen, the chairman of the Detroit RiverFront Conservancy, aims to get more people active on the RiverWalk through free fitness programming. “Live the Riverfront" is a multi-year partnership between Blue Cross and the RiverFront Conservancy. The Blues are pledging $1 million to the effort, which has several components:
  • Walk the RiverWalk Wednesdays — Over a 16-week period, we’re encouraging people to spend their lunch breaks or free time walking the riverfront on Wednesdays and logging their activity on an online portal. For every third check-in, they’ll receive a BCBSM-branded health-related prize, and those who check in at least eight times are entered into a drawing of RiverFront Conservancy prizes, including memberships, engraved waterfront paver bricks and tickets to the organization’s annual fundraising gala. This initiative kicks off May 7, when we’ll also distribute free pedometers to all participants.
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Riverfront Run/Walk — This 5- and 10K race replaces the popular River Days Run and will be held during the Detroit River Days festival on June 14. The race takes participants along the RiverWalk and Dequindre Cut Greenway and is expected to draw more than 1,000 participants. Information and registration are available here.
  • Weekly fitness classes — From June 2 through the end of August, we’ll be offering free weekly yoga and T’ai Chi classes at Rivard Plaza. Urban Solace will lead the yoga classes on Thursdays at 6 p.m. and on Fridays at 9 a.m., while the schedule for T’ai Chi will be announced later. No registration is necessary for the classes.
  • Riverfront Fit Park — In 2015 Blue Cross and the Riverfront Conservancy will unveil a free, permanent outdoor workout space with stationary equipment suitable for circuit workouts and boot camp-style exercise. The exact location and other details are still being finalized.
We’re really excited to launch this partnership with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. It builds on the great work they’re doing to transform the riverfront, and we think it helps fortify the riverfront as a true regional jewel. Daniel J. Loepp is president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. http://youtu.be/O5ZRLDxJewU

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1 Comments

L
Linda

May 7, 2014 at 5:54pm

This would be great for me. I walk at work on my lunch break but it's in a light industrial area. It's nice to see business that are interested in our overall health.

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