Gary Player and Humana Announce Health Partnership
Gary Player and Humana Announce Health Partnership
Player to join Humana at 2013 Humana Challenge PGA TOUR event to promote health and well-being
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Golf icon Gary Player and Humana Inc. (NYS: HUM) , one of the nation's leading health and well-being companies, announced today a three-year partnership to promote lifelong well-being and healthy living through proper diet and exercise, as well as plans to help address the increasing challenges of childhood obesity. As part of the partnership, Player will serve as a spokesman for the health care company.
"I look forward to a lasting, long-term relationship with Humana and the Humana Challenge," said Player, who has won more than 165 professional tournaments worldwide, including nine major championships, and is one of only five individuals to win the coveted Grand Slam of golf. The Humana partnership represents a special addition to Player's 2013 milestone year that includes his 60th anniversary as a professional and the 30th anniversary of his philanthropic endeavor, The Player Foundation.
"As a leader in the health care industry, Humana is doing a wonderful service to all those impacted by their care and health coverage. Over my 60-year golfing career, I placed great emphasis on fitness and a healthy diet and at this stage in my life, I really see the benefits of my lifelong commitment more than ever."
One of the initial highlights of the partnership will be Player's involvement in the Humana Challenge from January 14-20, 2013, in La Quinta, Calif. Sponsored by Humana and the William J. Clinton Foundation, the PGA TOUR event raised more than $2 million for charity in the tournament's inaugural year and was named "Sports Event of the Year" by the Sports Business Journal.
"Gary Player is a testament to a lifetime dedicated to wellness and we're excited to join forces under the common goal of improving people's health," said Mike McCallister, Humana's Chairman of the Board. "His personal and philanthropic commitment to overall health perfectly complements our dream of helping people achieve lifelong well-being."
Player has been a proponent of healthy living through proper diet and exercise and has maintained an incredible level of fitness throughout his legendary golfing career. At the age of 77, Player is recognized as a pioneer of fitness in sports and serves as an advisor and role model for many of today's up-and-coming PGA TOUR stars.
"I greatly admire the efforts and commitment of Humana and President Clinton to promote lifelong well-being, and I hope to serve as a testament to the benefits of healthy living both on and off the golf course," Player said.
About Humana
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health-care company that offers a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. By leveraging the strengths of its core businesses, Humana believes it can better explore opportunities for existing and emerging adjacencies in health care that can further enhance wellness opportunities for the millions of people across the nation with whom the company has relationships.
More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at www.humana.com, including copies of:
Annual reports to stockholders
Securities and Exchange Commission filings
Most recent investor conference presentations
Quarterly earnings news releases
Replays of most recent earnings release conference calls
Calendar of events (including upcoming earnings conference call dates and times, as well as planned interaction with research analysts and institutional investors)
Corporate Governance information
About Gary Player
Gary Player, often referred to as the Black Knight, symbolizes all that world-class golf is or was ever intended to be. A champion in every sense of the word, he has won 165 professional tournaments worldwide and through the philanthropic efforts of his foundation generated over $50 million dollars for the education of underprivileged children. Player, a master of the game and a world leader in golf course design, is credited with shaping more than 325 courses worldwide.
When Gary Player won the US Open in 1965 at age 29, he became only the third golfer to win the Grand Slam, following Ben Hogan and Gene Sarazen. Since then, only Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have added their names to this elite group. Player has, to date, won nine major championships on the regular PGA TOUR and nine on the Senior or Champions Tour. He is a three time President's Cup Captain and in 2000 received South Africa's Sportsman of the Century Award.
In addition to his 40 years of golf course design, Player currently serves as the Global Ambassador to the World Golf Hall of Fame and holds an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from St. Andrews University. His legendary career and humanitarian endeavors have been acknowledged through numerous awards, including the 2012 PGA TOUR Lifetime Achievement Award, the 2006 PGA TOUR Payne Stewart Award, and the 2003 Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award.
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Player has circled the globe in pursuit of sporting events, and after journeying over 15 million miles (or 25 million kilometers) he is widely recognized as The World's Most Traveled Athlete. When not traveling to or from sporting events, Player divides his time between the South African stud farm, where he has bred more than 2,000 winning thoroughbred racehorses, and his residence on Jupiter Island in Hobe Sound, Fla.
About Black Knight International
Established in 1983 by Marc Player, Black Knight International is a global holding company for The Player Group and the constantly expanding family of Gary Player® brands. With a powerful presence in North and South America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa, Black Knight is a multicultural and multilingual company offering branded services for the leisure and real estate industries. This rapidly growing firm is diverse and infused with the same tenaciousness and drive as Gary Player, world-renowned iconic golfer. The holding company divisions include: Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate, Black Knight Enterprises, Black Knight Solutions, Black Knight Capital, Gary Player Academies, and The Player Foundation. For further information on Gary Player, The Player Foundation, Gary Player Design, Player Real Estate or Black Knight International, visit www.garyplayer.com or contact Debbie Longenecker at debbie@garyplayer.com or telephone +1-864-477-2720.
Humana Corporate Communications
Tom Noland, 502-580-3674
tnoland@humana.com
or
Gary Player Group
Grace Lipscomb, 864-477-2720
grace@garyplayer.com
or
Castillo & Ruig Communications
Jake Kubie´, 310-882-5441, x103
Cell: 720-280-3580
jkubie@discovercrc.com
KEYWORDS: United States North America California Kentucky
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