MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2014 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Ward, Butler (38th), Chassaniol, Fillingane, Jackson (11th), Jackson (32nd)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO COMMEND AND CONGRATULATE THE PEARL RIVER RESORT CORPORATE WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE PROGRAM WHICH HAS RECEIVED NATIONAL MEDIA RECOGNITION AS IT EXPANDS INTO A WEIGHT LOSS MOVEMENT FOR THE ENTIRE CHOCTAW COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS, Pearl River Resort's weight loss challenge has achieved great success in improving the lives of over 3,000 employees, drawing national media attention and expanding its efforts to the entire Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians tribe. Inspired by the popular NBC series, "The Biggest Loser," the resort operations team created a program for the PRR associates to increase morale, reduce health risks and enhance employee job performance. As part of the ongoing health and wellness initiatives, PRR added an incentive - a weight loss challenge - to motivate associates to live healthier lifestyles. In May 2013, nearly 675 associates signed up to participate in this challenge and 1,800 pounds were lost in the first week alone; and
WHEREAS, what started as a simple corporate in-house weight loss challenge has expanded into a large-scale movement for the entire Choctaw Community. It will roll out later this spring to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, a tribe comprised of about 10,000 members. Native Americans are the number-one ethnic group affected by diabetes, often a leading result of obesity, in the United States. This effort will lower health risks and ease many other current health issues; and
WHEREAS, it started as Pearl River's December 2012 total makeover of the employee dining room — cutting out most fried foods, and the chef's re-engineering of the menu to serve fresh fruits and vegetables, adding healthy options including swordfish and turkey dishes, that inspired a successful health fair, then a May-July 2013 in-house "The Biggest Loser" competition. The Pearl River Resort 12-week program began on May 3, 2013, and ended on July 26. The top five teams and top five individuals were revealed and awarded at the Grand Finale on August 9th. Then, a second phase of competition was introduced to associates, The At-Home Challenge, which ran from September 16 to November 15. The total combined weight loss after 20 weeks reached 5,884 pounds; and
WHEREAS, as a result of the program's huge success, Pearl River Resort garnered national media attention from NBC's The Biggest Loser! Network producers and crew members from the show were surprise guests at the Resort's Grand Finale event on August 9, 2013. NBC continues to recognize Pearl River Resort by recently inviting representatives to travel to Culver City, California, to attend a live taping of The Biggest Loser Finale show on February 4, 2014. Among those in attendance were Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Tribal Chief Phyliss J. Anderson; Pearl River Resort President and CEO Holly Gagnon; and Vice President of Resort Operations Dawn Kempthorne; and
WHEREAS, "The challenge not only helped many of us to lose weight and live a healthier lifestyle but it was also a great team-building initiative," stated Holly Gagnon, President and CEO for Pearl River Resort. "Having NBC's 'The Biggest Loser' as part of our journey and our celebration was a wonderful added bonus, but the real joy is knowing we have helped change the lives of so many of our employees"; and
WHEREAS, Pearl River Resort is the Southern United States' first comprehensive luxury gaming resort. Pearl River Resort's portfolio of assets includes the Silver Star Hotel & Casino, the Golden Moon Hotel & Casino, the Dancing Rabbit Golf Club, and Geyser Falls Water Theme Park located in Choctaw, Mississippi, and Bok Homa Casino located in Sandersville, Mississippi. The Silver Star and Golden Moon Casinos feature two exciting hotel casinos with approximately 2,400 slot machines, 59 table games, 1,074 hotel rooms, Phillip M's award-winning steakhouse, a sports bar and grill and a variety of other dining options, a full-service spa, retail offerings and live entertainment. Also featured is Dancing Rabbit Golf Club with two championship golf courses and Geyser Falls Water Park and Bok Homa Casino which is the latest addition; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we join the national attention to this Mississippi corporate citizen whose attention to employee wellness is a wonderful example for the public and the private sector in the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Pearl River Resort corporate weight loss challenge program which has received national media recognition as it expands into a weight loss movement for the entire Choctaw Community, and extend our support for the expansion of this citizen wellness initiative statewide.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to CEO Holly Gagnon and Tribal Chief Phyliss Anderson, forwarded to the Mississippi Department of Health and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.