ASMBS Foundation News and Update—February 2013

by David Provost, MD

Dr. Provost is President of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Foundation. He maintains a private practice, Provost Bariatrics in Denton, Texas. Dr. Provost also serves on the ASMBS Executive Council, is a member of the Surgical Review Corporation’s (SRC) Board of Directors, and is a member of the Society for American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES), where he serves on the Bariatric Liaison Committee.

2012 Walk from Obesity Wrap-up. The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Foundation and the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) would like to thank you for your participation and support in making the 2012 Walk from Obesity a success. This year, there were more than 50 Walks held throughout the United States.
Congratulations to all of the Top National Fundraiser Walks. The following are the top fundraiser walks of 2012:

Dallas, Texas
Presented by: Joseph A. Kuhn, MD
Event leader: Sharon Savoie

Honolulu, Hawaii
Presented by: Hawaii Bariatric Society
Event leaders: Stanley Zagorski and Mary Eiger

Natick, Massachusetts
Presented by: Metrowest Medical Center and Leonard Morse Hospital
Event leader: Joanne Prentice

Greater Connecticut
Presented by: Hospitals and Physicians in Connecticut
Event leader: Paula O’Neil

Birmingham, Alabama
Presented by: Alabama Bariatric Professionals, Birmingham Black Nurses Association, Andrew DeWitt,  MD; Princeton Baptist Medical Center,   Trinity Medical Center and UAB Hospital
Event leader: Sue Cox Bunnell

Rockville, Maryland
Presented by: Barry S. Greene, MD, and Shady Grove Adventist Hospital
Event leaders: Marie Priest and Latasha N. Baxter

Grand Junction, Colorado
Presented by: Weight Loss Surgeons of Western Colorado
Event leader: Maria Polen

Greenville, North Carolina
Presented by: Vidant Medical Center; VIdant SurgiCenter; Southern Surgical; Physicians East and East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine
Event leader: Wendy Bridgers

St. Louis, Missouri
Presented by: SSM Weight Loss Institute; Mario Morales, MD and Dr. Wheeler
Event leaders: Rebecca Henderson-Riley and Patsy Beeson

Mobile, Alabama
Presented by: Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, Surgical Association of Mobile, P.A. and Southeastern Surgical Specialists, P.C.
Event leaders: Casey Frawley and Wendy Blount

Indianapolis, Indiana
Presented by: IU Health Bariatric and Medical Weight Loss and Community Health Network
Event leaders: Sarah Muntel and Courtney Moss

2012 National Sponsors. We would also like to extend a special thank you to all of our national sponsors for their continued support of the Walk from Obesity, who without their support, the Walk would not be possible.
Platinum Level Sponsor
Covidien
Gold Level Sponsor
Ethicon Endo-Surgery
Bronze Level Sponsors
Bariatric Advantage
Celebrate Bariatric Supplements

Once again, thank you all for your participation and support. For information on how to become a 2013 National Sponsor of the Walk from Obesity, please click visit http://walkfromobesity.com/resources/sponsorship.html

Incentive Prize Winners. In 2011, we started our incentive prize program as a way of saying thank you to those individuals who go the extra mile to fundraise for the Walk from Obesity. Those individuals who raised $100+ were entered into a drawing to win one of three iPod Nanos, while those who raised $500+ were entered into a drawing to win one of three Wii Game Systems, with Wii Fitness. Individual participants who raised $1,000+ will automatically receive a prize. Those who raised $1,000+ will receive an iPod Nano, while those who raised $2,500+ will receive an iPod Nano, along with a Wii Game System and Wii Fitness.

Congratulations to all the winners, but most of all, THANK YOU to everyone that went the extra mile and fundraised this year.
The 2012 incentive prize winners are as follows:
Wii Game System and iPod Nano (Raised $2,500+)
Susan R.—Rockville, MD
Beth S.—Dallas, TX
Beth S.—Natick, MA
Deborah T.—Birmingham, AL
iPod Nano (Raised $1,000-$2,499)
Barbara B.—Spokane, WA
Ira B.—Rockville, MD
Charlotte F.—Rockville, MD
Michele H.—Hickory, NC
Scott M.—Rhode Island
Libby S.—Hickory, NC
Cheryl W.—Natick, MA
Teresa Z.—Hickory, NC
Wayne Z.—Cranford, NJ
Wii Game System Drawing Winners (Raised $500+)
Sue B.—Birmingham, AL
Kristy C.—Mooresville, NC
Helen D.—Rhode Island
Robert L.—Honolulu, HA
Scott Y.—Wilmington, NC
iPod Nano Drawing Winners (Raised $100+)
Michael G.—Mobile, AL
Monty M.—Conway, SC
Leslie M.—Greenville, NC
Stephanie P.—Gilbert, AZ
Megan V.—Spokane, WA

*Prizes are for individuals, not for teams, and based upon individual fundraising efforts. Prizes are based on the amount of money turned in by walkers by December 31, 2012.
** Prizes are not cumulative. Limit: one prize per participant per Walk year. You may choose to donate your prize back to the Walk from Obesity. Prize notifications will be e-mailed in January 2013 to confirm prize level and shipping information; a response to this confirmation is required to claim gift. Claims for gifts not received by March 15, 2013, will be considered forfeit and donated back to the Walk from Obesity. If you did not receive your notification please email [email protected].
***For all 2012 walks occurring prior to December 31, 2012. Walks occurring between January 1, 2013 and June 1, 2013 have until June 30, 2013 to turn in donations.

Spring 2013 Walk from Obesity Cities Announced. We are excited to announce our 2013 spring walks! The following cities will be hosting a Walk from Obesity from March through June 2013:

Colorado—Grand Junction
Louisiana—Lafayette, Monroe, New Orleans
Massachusettes—Natick
New York—New York City
New Jersey—Old Bridge
Pennsylvania—Hershey
South Carolina—W. Columbia/Lexington
Tennessee—Nashville
Texas—McAllen

Stay tuned for a more complete details of 2013 Spring locations. Event information will be added as it becomes available.

Companies and Organizations Invited to Become a Corporate Sponsor of the Walk from Obesity. Are you actively involved with a company that would be interested in becoming a sponsor of the Walk from Obesity? The Walk from Obesity is seeking private businesses and corporations to participate as corporate sponsors.

As the largest gathering of individuals affected by obesity, the Walk from Obesity is a powerful public awareness event. Corporate sponsors, and those who support walkers, are an integral part in helping to raise awareness. In addition to prominent recognition on the Walk from Obesity website and on event T-shirts, corporate sponsors are able to reach out to Walk participants on both the national and local levels and proudly promote their participation and support of the event throughout the year. The Walk from Obesity also receives widespread media exposure and corporate sponsors are often recognized as a support to this important cause.

If you or someone you know is interested in corporate sponsorship, please visit our website at www.walkfromobesity.com and click on “Become a Sponsor,” or contact us at (866) 471-2727 or [email protected] to receive information regarding initiatives and the benefits of sponsorship. The deadline to become a sponsor is April 30, 2013.

Thank you for your support and commitment to make a difference!

Tags: ASMBS Foundation

Category: ASMBS Foundation News and Update, Past Articles