These four employees committed to a lifestyle change utilizing the American Heart Association’s Life’s Essential 8 and were selected by a committee at the American Heart Association and NFI.
Life’s Essential 8 are the key measures for improving and maintaining cardiovascular health, as defined by the American Heart Association. Better cardiovascular health helps lower the risk of heart disease.
NFI is committed to a healthy work environment for their employees and created this award to honor those employees who took this lifestyle change to heart. More than 90 employees applied to be considered for the Driving for Change Award. The awardees will receive an all-expense paid trip for them and a guest to attend the 2023 Philadelphia Heart Ball on April 21, 2023. The competition ran from January 6, 2023, to February 28, 2023.
Each winner brings a different perspective on how this competition benefited their health and well-being.
Denise Rodriguez, Transportation Manager in Olympia, WA, shared that the one Essential 8 behavior that helped her the most was eating better and bringing more color into her diet. She now has more energy and mental clarity throughout the day. She reports feeling happier and more productive in her daily tasks and stated, “At my age, I’m at risk for diabetes, heart attacks, and strokes. I would like to now focus on myself when I did not have the opportunity to do so before working for NFI.” Her advice is: “At any age, never give up!” 
Erwin R Navarro, Spotter in Chino, CA, shared the Life’s Essential 8 behavior that helped him on his lifestyle journey was eating better, getting more sleep, and quitting smoking. He reported losing a significant amount of weight, and his doctor said his overall health has improved. He notices he has more energy and is keeping up with his family, children, and pets easier. The best advice he wanted to share was to begin with eating healthier!
Jazmine Moses, Shipping/Receiving Clerk in Mount Pocono, PA, shared that eating better, moving more, and quitting smoking helped her on her path to wellness. She and her co-workers have begun to work out for two hours four days a week before their morning shift. Her motivation to begin this journey was to be able to keep up with her toddler and because she noticed her depression wasn’t getting better. Now, she has more energy. She is happier and more productive daily. Her advice: “just to start, there is always something else you could be doing, but by taking care of yourself, you are going to be there for those who count on you the most.”
Marco Rangel, a Forklift Operator in Moreno Valley, CA, shared that the one Life’s Essential 8 that helped him was eating better and adding
more fruits and vegetables to his diet. He also shared that getting consistent sleep was instrumental in this journey to better cardiovascular health, and he, too, has been given a “clean bill of health” by his physician. Marco said he would not have been able to do this if he was not working at NFI, and he thanks God and NFI for allowing him this opportunity to be a better man for his family.
We are inspired by these four NFI employees, their amazing lifestyle changes, and their words of advice. We look forward to hosting them at the 2023 Heart of Philadelphia Celebration with NFI CEO Sid Brown. 
The funds raised at the 66th Annual Philadelphia Heart Ball will help fund the mission of the American Heart Association to be a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives while supporting priority issues in Greater Philadelphia.
To learn more about the Heart of Philadelphia campaign, or to join Craig Beazer, Dr. Richard Snyder, Dr. Paul Mather, and other area executives, click here or contact Sadie.Macklem@heart.org for more information.
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About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter , or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
About NFI
NFI is a fully-integrated North American supply chain solutions provider headquartered in Camden, N.J. Privately held by the Brown family since 1932, the company generates more than $3.9 billion in annual revenue and employs over 16,800 associates. NFI owns and operates more than 70 million square feet of warehouse space alongside a dedicated fleet of 5,000 tractors and 14,300 trailers. By 2023, NFI will operate the first 100% zero-emission drayage fleet, leading the transition to zero-emission goods movement in the United States. NFI’s relentless innovation and unparalleled service deliver logistics solutions that transform the way business gets done. The company’s business lines include dedicated transportation, warehousing and distribution, ecommerce fulfillment, brokerage, transportation management, port drayage, intermodal, global logistics, and industrial real estate. For more information about NFI, visit www.nfiindustries.com or call 1-877-NFI-3777.
Watch A Special Message from NFI President and CEO Sid Brown from the Heart Ball.
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