Q. How much ChooseWell matching grant money are managers eligible to receive each year?
A. In order to allocate dollars in an equitable fashion, grants are awarded according to the number of employees in your work area. Grant money is distributed based on the following criteria:

• 1 - 25 employees: grant max. $250
• 26 - 50 employees: grant max. $500
• 51 - 75 employees: grant max. $750
• 76 + employees: grant max. $1,000

As a reminder, grant money is not intended to be a direct cash payment to employees, but should go toward funding specific wellness programs that will benefit employees in their efforts to achieve a healthy lifestyle.



Q. What is the amount of the Team Choice Award?
A. The TCA is 50 percent of the eligible ChooseWell Matching Grant dollars allotted to your department. For example, if you manage 80 employees, you are eligible for $1,000 in matching grant funds. Your TCA would then be $500. If you have 10 employees who report to you, you would be eligible for $250 in matching grant funds, and an additional $125 from the TCA.



Q. When is the Team Choice Award distributed and do I have a deadline to spend it?
A. The TCA will be distributed in July. You will have until Dec. 31, 2010 to spend the award dollars on a wellness activity or program for your work group.



Q. How many wellness programs will the matching grant support in a given year?
A. You may allocate the funds to one program or among many programs within your department/work group. For example, if your department would like to order pedometers to conduct a walking competition or sponsor a team for a 5K race, then those activities would meet the grant criteria. Remember that to qualify for a matching grant, your effort must include a physical activity. For instance, ordering healthy snacks for your employees would not qualify for a grant.



Q. Is there a deadline to apply for the grant?
A. All grant applications must be submitted by May 31, 2010. This allows employees the time to receive their results from a WellFair and set their wellness goals, which can lead to a group effort within a department/work area. Applications will be reviewed by the grant committee and then allocated within a 30-day period.



Q. Do I need to apply for the Team Choice Award?
A. No. The award will be based on WellFair participation and physical biometric data submitted by employees in your area. You will then be notified by June 15, 2010 if you qualify for the award.



Q. What are the grant criteria?
A. Grant applications which fulfill the following criteria will be considered favorably by the committee:

1. The activity must target the ChooseWell goals of lowering Body Mass Index (BMI) and glucose levels, support the ChooseWell and Choose to Own Your Health incentive programs and incorporate a physical activity.
2. Wellness initiatives must be open and available to all employees reporting to the requesting manager.
3. Results must be documented and shared (in the aggregate) with Corporate Health and Safety.

Within the grant application, managers also will be required to specify the goals, expectations and intended results of the suggested wellness activity.



Q. I am a manager of an operations center, with employees based at several different facilities. How can I take advantage of the ChooseWell grant?
A. A manager with employees at multiple facilities may split the grant money among those locations. For instance, one location may hire a nutritionist, while one facility conducts a weight-loss challenge and one group brings in a personal trainer.



Q. Could I collaborate with other managers in my line of business, especially if several managers and our employees are at the same location?
A. Yes, it's encouraged! Collaborating with other managers on the grant application maximizes the effectiveness of the ChooseWell grant program, increases participation among employees and encourages team-building across departments.