It’s been an unusually warm winter in many parts of the country, but fewer daylight hours still have a way of making us feel lazy and sluggish. In winter months, when trails and sports fields are covered with snow and ice, it’s easy to let your level of physical activity decrease in favor of curling up at home.
With a home base in Buffalo, New York, the folks at BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York (BCBSWNY) are well-accustomed to long, snowy winters and the challenges weather can present to physical activity. But rather than hole up inside for months, BCBSWNY is encouraging the community to embrace winter in a big way by entering into a partnership with Canalside, home to the largest outdoor ice rink in New York State.
As the presenting sponsor of “The Ice at Canalside,” BCBSWNY developed a community relations program to encourage BCBS members and the entire Buffalo community to get out and be active during the winter months. Plus, BCBSWNY members receive a $1 discount off open skate-admission and skate rentals when they show their ID card. BCBSWNY also introduced #SuitSkate, inviting downtown workers to ice skate during their lunch break on Thursdays at a discounted rate.
The Ice at Canalside proves to be a popular destination in Western New York. In its inaugural season, more than 61,000 skaters took to the ice, and continues to be a favorite location for Western New Yorkers. BCBSWNY’s investment in the Ice at Canalside is an example of the Power of Blue—Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies’ commitment to helping members live healthier lives. To learn more about how Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are using The Power of Blue to help improve the health of the communities we serve, download the full Investing in America’s Health report.