Steelcase Inc. Announces Three Winning Videos in Walkstation Contest
Winners to Participate in TOMS Shoes Walk-a-Thon for Needy Children
December 8, 2009 – Grand Rapids, MI – Steelcase, the global leader in the office furniture industry, awarded a Walkstation Fitness Office – a height adjustable workstation with built-in treadmill – to three participants as part of its Walk-a-Thon promotion with TOMS Shoes. The competition goal is to raise awareness of the need for children in impoverished areas and the importance of active movement throughout the work day.
Entrants were asked to submit a video explaining why they should receive a Walkstation® – an integrated combination of a height adjustable workspace and an exclusively engineered low-speed treadmill designed to bring healthy habits to sedentary workers while they are working. Thirteen teams submitted essays and videos, from which employees at Steelcase selected the three winners based on creativity, originality and connection to fitness/wellness.
Upon receiving the Walkstations, the winning teams will compete in a two-week long walk-a-thon, starting December 7, to provide shoes to children in need. Participants will record their progress and are encouraged to share their walk-a-thon experience through Twitter. Based on the miles walked by participating teams, Steelcase will make a contribution to Friends of TOMS, a non-profit organization of TOMS Shoes. Other prizes will be awarded to the participants during the two weeks based on milestone achievements.
Contest winners include The McCullough family of New Hampshire, MTCSC, an engineering services company located in Virginia and Reagan Marketing + Design of Michigan. Follow their progress by visitinghttp://store.steelcase.com/go/walkstation-contest/winners/.
Mary Reagan Shapton, founder of Reagan Marketing + Design, describes her involvement in the contest and the Walk-a-Thon competition.“The video gave us the opportunity to have some fun and engage in friendly competition,” said Reagan. “We look forward to raising money for children’s shoes – and we are brainstorming other ways we can tie this walk-a-thon to our charitable contributions this holiday season.”
Lisa Godenick, director of Process, Standards and Professionalism for MTCSC adds, “We were looking at some Steelcase collaborative furniture for our Center for Technology (C4T) and discovered the Walkstation Contest. We just fell in love with the Walkstation and thought it would be perfect for our Innovation Chamber as it’s unique and promotes a work/health balance. Once we discovered there was a contest that would also contribute to TOMS, we decided this would be a fun opportunity to create a video that is contributing to such a great charity.”
Friends of TOMS,is a non-profit organization that mobilizes, connects and empowers supporters of TOMS Shoes’ One for One Movement. TOMS Shoes was founded on a simple promise: With every pair you purchase, TOMS will give a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One. Since its beginning, TOMS has given over 150,000 pairs of shoes to children in need through the One for One model. Because of caring customers around the world, TOMS plans to give over 300,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world in 2009.
About Steelcase Inc.
Steelcase Inc. helps create great experiences – wherever work happens. Our brands offer a comprehensive portfolio of workplace furnishings, products and services, inspired by nearly 100 years of insight gained serving the world’s leading organizations. We are globally accessible through a network of channels, including over 650 dealers. We design for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Steelcase is a global, publicly traded company leading our industry with fiscal 2009 revenue of approximately $3.2 billion.
About Steelcase Store
The Steelcase online store provides easy access to office furniture for those who value performance, design, and comfort. The Steelcase Store offers simple and convenient online purchasing options, exceptional customer service, free shipping both ways and our free white-glove installation services.
Contact:
Jeanine Holquist
616.698.3765
Jholquis@steelcase.com