The campaign to celebrate Humana’s 50th anniversary has won a Gold Quill Award from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), one of the top global awards in public relations. The IABC Gold Quill Awards recognizes the best in communication management, skills and creativity across 32 categories. Humana won in the “Special Events – Internal or External” category for its efforts to celebrate the company’s 50th Anniversary, which included a number of special events and culminated with a celebration for associates on Aug. 18 in Louisville.

Humana also has been named a finalist in the SABRE awards, which are presented by the Holmes Group. Winners will be announced in May.

To commemorate Humana’s 50th anniversary, Chairman and CEO Mike McCallister, Co-founder and Chairman Emeritus David A. Jones, Humana board members and guests gathered at the New York Stock Exchange, where McCallister rang The Closing Bell on Aug. 17, 2011. (Mike McCallister and David A. Jones are in the front row, third and fourth from left.)

Thousands of Humana associates, supporters and friends gathered in the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the company and its legacy of service.  The anniversary event featured remarks from Humana Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike McCallister; Humana Co-founder and Chairman Emeritus David A. Jones; former board chair and current board member David A. Jones, Jr.; as well as acknowledgements from Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. The River City Drum Corp played and a comedy troupe performed sketches that chronicle Humana’s history and future aspirations.

The Aug. 18 celebration was the last of a series of events that Humana has held in the last few months to honor the people it has helped, the communities it serves and the associates who’ve made it all happen.  Other highlights include:

• On Aug. 17, Mike McCallister, David A. Jones and Humana board members gathered at the New York Stock Exchange, where McCallister rang The Closing Bell.
• Humana and 125 of its South Florida associates built and donated an innovative multigenerational playground in Lauderhill, Fla.
• A Well-being Fair was held at Louisville’s Bardstown Road Farmer’s Market. Humana provided blood pressure and BMI screenings and partnered with Peopleforbikes.org on wellness checks for bikes.
• Each associate received a book that documents Humana’s legacy: the company’s longtime commitment to people and its dedication to helping them achieve lifelong well-being.

David A. Jones and the late Wendell Cherry founded Humana as a nursing home company on Aug. 18, 1961. Jones and Cherry demonstrated a unique ability to forecast change and adapt quickly, resulting in five decades of success as the company transformed from the largest nursing home company in the country to the largest hospital company to a leader in the health insurance industry.  That innovative spirit and commitment to service, health and wellness continues today.

In the last few months, Humana has taken time to reflect on its history but remains focused on the future as it helps people achieve lifelong well-being.

Humana Chairman and CEO Mike McCallister joined more than 140 associates who volunteered to build an innovative, multigenerational playground in the city of Lauderhill, Florida. Humana volunteers built the 2,500-square-foot playground at Ruth Rothkopf Park, as well as five standalone exercise stations for adults and senior citizens. In addition, volunteers also built new picnic tables, benches, shade areas, and an enhanced walking path. Humana continues to celebrate its 50th Anniversary. Fifty years of helping people. The playground build is part of a continuing effort to say thank you to the communities where our members live.