You Can Now Submit Nominations for the 2021 Be Well Philly Health Hero Challenge
2021 has been a difficult but hopeful year. After some of the highest case counts during the past winter, news of vaccine rollouts and falling case counts provided hope that this year would be better than the last. But we’re still rebuilding — still learning how to return to our (somewhat) normal lives after more than a year of grief and doubt. Through it all, we’ve seen medical professionals, frontline workers, and neighbors continually step up to help one another.
Here at Be Well Philly, we have strived for a decade of highs and lows to highlight people who are helping others in the greater Philadelphia area live healthier and better lives. This year, on Be Well Philly Health Hero Challenge’s tenth anniversary, we feel a responsibility to honor our health heroes more than ever. In a year of unprecedented heroism, we want to recognize those who are helping — who are rebuilding their communities in the aftermath of crisis. It’s our way of honoring the incredible and often unseen work that people do every day, even in the most challenging of circumstances.
We’re thrilled to announce that nominations are once again open for the Be Well Philly Health Hero Challenge presented by Independence Blue Cross. We’re looking for medical providers, nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, teachers—anyone, really, who’s making a difference in our community from a health and wellness perspective. You can nominate your friend who runs a cancer support group, your neighbor who started a grocery delivery service to elderly members of the community, the doctor who started an educational campaign to tackle vaccine hesitancy, or even yourself (as long as they/you live in Pennsylvania, Delaware, or New Jersey and are over the age of 21). After all, if you’re a Be Well Philly reader, you’re probably plugged into — or at least are trying to figure out — how we can all live well.
Previous winners have included leaders such as:
- Christy Silva, (last year’s winner), co-founder of Aidan’s Heart Foundation, which provides education, awareness, and support to prevent and respond to sudden cardiac arrest in youth
- Amanda Piccirilli-Hall, Southeast Pennsylvania ambassador for Ainsley’s Angels of America, a nonprofit that pairs able-bodied runners with those who wouldn’t be able to complete an endurance race without assistance.
- Leslie Marant, co-ambassador for Black Girls RUN! Philadelphia
- Darren Sudman, who raises awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and death through his nonprofit, Simon’s Heart
From these nominees, 10 semi-finalists will be selected by Philadelphia magazine editors. Readers will vote to narrow the semi-finalists down to three finalists and finally to the ultimate winner. The winner will be named the 2021 Health Hero and will receive a $15,000 donation to his or her charity of choice, and two runners-up will each receive $2,500 donations to the charities of their choice.
Stay in touch with @bewellphilly and @phillymagevents and be sure to follow the challenge using #BWPHealthHero! If you’re ready, nominate your Health hero here.
