SOMERVILLE PARTNERS WITH INNOVATIVE HEALTH AND WELLNESS PORTAL ‘WELLCOIN’ TO PROMOTE WELLBEING VIA SOCIAL MEDIA

Users earn Wellcoins, a virtual currency, for doing any of

hundreds of healthy activities, and they are not simply limited to eating right

and being active. Exemplifying Somerville's focus on the "whole person,"

Wellcoin offers rewards for such healthy lifestyle choices as doing good deeds

for friends and neighbors, reading a book, and yes, even indulging in a cupcake

every once in a while (it does contribute to happiness, after all). Users can

then redeem earned Wellcoins for rewards and services with participating local

vendors, which currently include Brooklyn Boulders, Broga and Whole Foods in

Somerville-and the list is growing!

"We are extremely excited to partner with Wellcoin as part

of our continued commitment to providing innovative, fun and engaging

opportunities for residents of all ages to find ways to be healthy and happy in

the City of Somerville," said Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone. "It's important not

only to eat right and be active, but to see health and wellness as an overall

lifestyle choice that includes contributing to your community in positive ways,

being kind to friends and neighbors, or taking time for yourself to do things

that you love. Wellcoin really encompasses that value, and we hope residents

find this opportunity as fun and exciting as I already have."

"We

are truly delighted to partner with Somerville, which is known nationally as a

pioneer among cities when it comes to assuring the health and wellness of its

residents," said Glenn Laffel, CEO of Wellcoin. "Somerville's partnership with

Wellcoin is just its latest creative effort to lead in this area. We look

forward to the collaboration."

Users can log activity and check in at local establishments

by signing in at www.wellcoin.com or by using the Wellcoin app

available on iPhone or Android phones. Local businesses or organizations who

would like to participate in Wellcoin by providing incentives should email

partners@wellcoin.com or visit http://www.wellcoin.com/Partner.

To kick off the partnership, the City will raffle off a pair

of tickets to the popular (and sold out!) annual Illuminations Tour, run by the

Somerville Arts Council, on Saturday, Dec. 14. The tickets are valid for Mayor

Curtatone's trolley at 5 p.m., and winners will be chosen at random on December

10^th. To qualify for the raffle, you must be a resident of

Somerville and must log at least one activity on Wellcoin between Dec. 5 and

Dec. 12.