November 17, 2008

The American Heart Association acknowledges Motley Rice LLC with two fitness awards

MOUNT PLEASANT, SC - Mt. Pleasant-based law firm Motley Rice LLC has received the American Heart Association’s Gold Start! Fit-Friendly Company Award and the 2008 Start! Lowcountry Heart Walk Target Goal Award. The Fit-Friendly Award recognizes Motley Rice’s commitment to championing the health of its employees by creating physical activity programs within the workplace. The award was announced during the opening ceremonies at the annual Start! Heart Walk on Saturday, September 20, 2008, in front of a crowd of more than 3,500 walkers. The Target Goal Award, presented on Thursday, November 13, 2008, at the Association’s awards banquet, acknowledges that the firm exceeded its self-established fundraising goals for the 2008 Start! Heart Walk.

Motley Rice was named as a Fit-Friendly Company for recent achievements in employee relations addressing health and wellness. Within the past year, the firm has executed several internal programs including: establishing a partnership with the East Shore Athletic Club; encouraging stair use with designated sneaker Fridays; promoting walking by providing pedometers to employees to walk the bridge; and serving as a Weight Watchers at Work® site. Additionally, the firm hosted its second annual health fair with local medical, fitness and health organizations and vendors and continued to promote its established smoking cessation program.

Mina Agujia, Director of Human Resources at Motley Rice LLC, accepted the award on behalf of Motley Rice at the Start! Lowcountry Heart Walk. “It’s an honor to receive this important award from such an established organization,” said Agujia. “Our firm strives to inspire and assist our employees in maintaining healthy lifestyles. We believe that fit and healthier employees are happier and more productive individuals."

According to the American Heart Association, obesity costs American businesses $12.7 billion per year in medical expenses and $225.8 billion in health-related productivity losses. Start! is the American Heart Association’s national movement to increase the physical activity of employees. Gold-level Fit-Friendly Company recognition is given twice a year to companies that fulfill criteria such as offering employees physical activity support, increasing healthy eating options at work, promoting a wellness culture, as well as implementing at least six physical activities, two nutrition activities and one culture program outlined by the Start! program.

Founded in 1924, the American Heart Association today is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary health organization dedicated to building healthier lives, free of heart diseases and stroke. These diseases, America’s No.1 and No. 3 killers, and all other cardiovascular diseases, claim nearly 870,000 lives a year. In fiscal year 2006-07, the association invested more than $554 million in research, professional and public education, advocacy and community service programs to help all Americans live longer, healthier lives. To learn more, call +1 800.AHA.USA1 or visit http://americanheart.org.

About Motley Rice LLC
Motley Rice attorneys gained global recognition for their pioneering work on behalf of asbestos victims, the State Attorneys General in their landmark litigation against Big Tobacco, and the 9/11 families in their groundbreaking lawsuit against terrorist financiers. The firm employees approximately 275 staff, more than 60 attorneys and has offices in South Carolina, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.