The CDPHP® Workforce Team Challenge is a 3.5-mile race that takes place every year in Albany, NY. Last night on May 19th, a team of volunteer runners from Auto/Mate joined 10,000 runners and walkers and completed the race that benefits local charities.

 

Auto/Mate has participated in the Workforce Challenge since 2010 and this year 12 employees finished the 3.5-mile run. “We had even more people that wanted to register,” said Dave Druzynski, Auto/Mate’s Director of Human Resources, “but the race has become so popular that it reached the 10,000 participant limit before all our team members had a chance to sign up.”

In addition to finishing the race, Team Auto/Mate also won an award for its T-shirt design. The t-shirts depict a Hawaiian theme with the words, “Hang Loose with Team Auto/Mate.”

 

The CDPHP® Workforce Team Challenge raises thousands of dollars for several local charities every year. This year the charities of choice include:

 

Schenectady ARC: a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. Schenectady ARC provides care and support for over 1,000 people and their families in the region.

 

Girls on the Run Capital Region: This charity’s mission is to inspire grade school girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running.

 

Alicia Stilson, an Auto/Mate Customer Support Coordinator, volunteers with Girls on the Run. “I got involved with Girls on the Run as a running buddy, which is someone who helps to inspire and motivate their young running buddy to keep practicing. The girls work towards running a 5K together and we accomplished that on Mother’s Day in Central Park. It was a truly inspirational event.”

 

Girls on the Run isn’t just about running a 5K, but teaches young girls how to work towards achieving goals. They also learn about nutrition, peer pressure and how to set and accomplish their greater goals in life.

 

Participating in the CDPHP Workforce Team Challenge is an annual tradition at Auto/Mate. “From a company standpoint, this is a great team building effort that ties directly into our wellness initiatives,” said Druzynski. “We are really proud of our focus on wellness as a company. In fact, we have three employees who have lost over 100 pounds each in the past couple years!”

 

Once again, Auto/Mate team members root each other on for a good cause. Congratulations, Team Auto/Mate!