ALLtech Retains Top Fundraising Spot for Hike-a-Thon 2023!

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This year’s Hike-a-Thon was all about breaking records, with a whopping $244,755.78 raised to support trails during the annual fundraiser that ALLtech was proud to sponsor and participate in.

For the third year in a row, the ALLtech team was also proud to be awarded for raising the most money for a company team! ALLtech has been supporting the annual fundraiser for the Washington Trails Association (WTA) since 2019, helping raise more than $20,000 under the leadership of ALLtech Trustee Ken Myer.

“We believe — and the science supports — that getting outdoors in nature is good for the body and the mind,” says Myer, who was recognized earlier this year in WTA Magazine for his advocacy and passion for trails.

In addition to breaking fundraising records in 2023, Hike-a-Thon also celebrated its milestone 20th anniversary during the monthlong event in August. You can read more about this year’s Hike-a-Thon in the WTA post 15,000+ miles and $244,000+ raised: a recap of our biggest Hike-a-Thon yet, which offers the following highlights:

  • Hike-a-Thoners registered: 635
  • Teams registered: 127
  • Miles hiked: 15,596 miles — that’s more miles than Mount Rainier is tall!
  • Elevation gained: 2,590,237 feet
  • Dollars raised for trails: $244,755.78 — a new Hike-a-Thon record!

Why ALLtech Supports Hike-a-Thon and Washington Trails Association

At ALLtech, we believe that connecting with nature is critical to everyone’s mental and physical health, and we know that supporting Washington Trails Association will help ensure there are trails for everyone, forever.

To learn more, please watch our below video: Trails for Everyone, Forever.

Video: Get Out, Give Back with ALLtech Benefits at Hike-a-Thon

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Each year in August, the team at ALLtech Benefits takes some time to get out and enjoy the outdoors, while also giving back to the amazing trail system in Washington state. For the fifth consecutive year, ALLtech is sponsoring and participating in Hike-a-Thon to support the Washington Trails Association (WTA), and we invite you to join our ALLtech fundraising team so together we can help ensure there are trails for everyone, forever.

Hike-a-Thon is a community fundraising event that gives participants the opportunity to hike, share stories of their outdoor adventures, and raise funds that directly support trails in Washington. Not interested in hiking? You can still show your support for trails by joining Hike-a-Thon and helping us spread the word.

Over the years, ALLtech has raised more than $20,000 to support WTA and our state’s trails, and the ALLtech team is the reigning top fundraiser for a company team. Committed to the health and wellness of our members and the greater community, ALLtech Benefits is looking for like-minded folks to join our Hike-a-Thon team, or maybe you want to form your own and challenge us for the title?

It’s easy to register for Hike-a-Thon, and it’s free! When you choose whether to register as an individual or to create or join a team of two to 10 hikers, consider forming a team with your family, friends or colleagues – or you can join or donate to the ALLtech team at give.wta.org/alltech-hikes.

ALLtech Hike-a-Thon Team Again Awarded a Top Fundraiser

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For the second year in a row, the ALLtech Hike-a-Thon team was awarded for raising the most funds for a company team during the August 2022 Hike-a-Thon to support the Washington Trails Association (WTA).

“We are so proud of the ALLtech team for showing such strong support for the Washington Trails Association,” said ALLtech Hike-a-Thon team member Ken Myer, who is also the trustee of ALLtech Benefits. “Hike-a-Thon is always such a fun event and the work of the WTA aligns so closely with our mission. Our trail system is a treasure and getting out in nature is so good for our health.”

The coveted prize ALLtech team members are gearing up for is an invitation to join WTA Interim CEO Jaime Loucky on a hand-picked hike and learn insider information on WTA’s work for the next year. Read more about the prizes that were awarded to both individual participants and teams.

The ALLtech team was one of 70 registered for this year’s 19th annual Hike-a-Thon, the second-largest ever. Click the above image or check out the corresponding WTA blog for a recap of winners and other notable numbers, including:

  • Hike-a-Thoners registered: 521
  • Miles hiked: 13,640 miles
  • Elevation gained: 2,347,847 feet
  • Dollars raised for trails: $212,113

Why ALLtech Supports Hike-a-Thon and Washington Trails Association

At ALLtech, we believe that connecting with nature is critical to everyone’s mental and physical health, and we know that supporting Washington Trails Association will help ensure there are trails for everyone, forever.

In addition to participating as a team, ALLtech also was a sponsor of the 2022 Hike-a-Thon, along with partners Delta Dental of Washington and Advanced Professionals Insurance & Benefit Solutions. To learn more, please watch our below video: Trails for Everyone, Forever.

Looking for Majestic Views on Your Next Hike? Head to Lake Ingalls

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Whether you’re participating in Hike-a-Thon to support Washington Trails Association or are just looking for a beautiful escape to the mountains, consider the above video recommendation from ALLtech Trustee Ken Myer.

“If COVID has taught us anything, it’s that we really do cherish the time we spend out on the trails and in nature,” he says. “It’s good for the heart – physically – and good for the soul.”

Ken, who is a proud member of the ALLtech Hike-a-Thon team, recommends Lake Ingalls in the Teanaway, a 9-mile hike described beautifully by Washington Trails Association (WTA): “The lake is a spectacular sky-blue and surrounded by rocks that fall in giant slabs into the water’s sandy floor. Ingalls Peaks reach high above the lake on the one side, while Mount Stuart stands majestically to its northeast. There are few places as lovely as this.”

Join or Donate to the ALLtech Hike-a-Thon Team

Join the ALLtech Hike-a-Thon Team graphicAt ALLtech, we believe that connecting with nature is critical to everyone’s mental and physical health, and we know that supporting Washington Trails Association will help ensure there are trails for everyone, forever. We hope you’ll consider joining the challenge or just be inspired to enjoy the amazing trail system that spans throughout the Pacific Northwest.

For more information or to register for Hike-a-Thon, visit the Hike-a-Thon website and check out their resources including the Hike-a-Thon Toolkit and FAQ.

More importantly, if you’re looking for a team to join or to donate to, please consider the ALLtech team!

Thank you for your support and we hope to see you on the trails!

Join the ALLtech Hike-a-Thon Team to Help Support Trails for Everyone, Forever

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ALLtech is once again taking its commitment to health and wellness to the trails by sponsoring the Hike-a-Thon fundraiser to support the Washington Trails Association. To make an even bigger impact, we are also inviting you to join our ALLtech fundraising team so together we can support the trails we love while hiking throughout August.

Connecting with nature is critical to everyone’s mental and physical health, and the ALLtech team and its partners – including fellow sponsors Delta Dental of Washington and Advanced Professionals Insurance & Benefit Solutions – believe that supporting Washington Trails Association through Hike-a-Thon will help ensure there are trails for everyone, forever.

How You Can Participate in Hike-a-Thon

Join the ALLtech Hike-a-Thon Team graphicHike-a-Thon is a community fundraising event that gives hikers the opportunity to raise funds for Washington Trails Association. Throughout August, Hike-a-Thon participants hike, share stories of their outdoor adventures, and raise funds that directly support trails in Washington.

Registration is free and simple, with plenty of tips available via the Hike-a-Thon Toolkit. You will have the opportunity to choose whether to hike as an individual or to create or join a team of two to 10 hikers. Consider forming a team with your family, friends or colleagues, and of course you’re always welcome to join the ALLtech team!

Why Support Washington Trails Association

The Washington Trails Association is a nonprofit that mobilizes hikers and everyone who loves the outdoors to explore, steward and champion trails and public lands.

Its robust website, wta.org, is the go-to source for Washington state hikers looking for their next adventure. But the wealth of resources expands well beyond recommending your next hike, including Trail Smarts tips for both new and experienced hikers, ways to get involved, and much more.

Washington Trails Association also is a leader in advocacy to support trails and wildlands, and is responsible for creating the state’s largest volunteer trail maintenance program.

Becoming a member might be the easiest way to support Washington Trails Association, but joining Hike-a-Thon – the organization’s signature fundraiser – is definitely the most fun way to give back.

Need Hiking Tips?

It’s never too early to start planning your Hike-a-Thon destinations, and we’ve got plenty of resources to get you started! Of course, the best place to turn to is the Washington Trails Association’s website, wta.org. Use the Hiking Guide to find a hike based on region, length, user ratings and other features, or check out the site’s Trip Reports or recommendations based by season.

Keep an eye on our ALLtech News or Twitter feed for hiking tips and more in the weeks to come. We’ll see you on the trails!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

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From ALLtech medical provider Regence

Mental health is as important as our physical health. In fact, people with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing more chronic physical conditions like cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. With 1 in 5 people in the United States experiencing a mental illness in a given year, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Regence recognizes it’s an essential part of health care.

Regence is proud to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month in May and the importance of bringing light to mental health, breaking down stigma and improving the well-being of our communities.

This year we are focused on improving access to behavioral health for our members to find the right care when they need it. To help our members find the right care, we continue to train our customer service professionals in Mental Health First Aid, a globally recognized certification, to better support our members and help them understand and access their mental health benefits.

Whether you need occasional emotional support or ongoing mental health care, Regence has a variety of programs to prevent, identify and treat mental health and substance use disorders. Regence members who want to understand what is available under their health plan can sign in to their account on regence.com, or call us for help finding the right behavioral health resources.

Join Regence in bringing light to mental health

During Mental Health Awareness Month and year-round, remember that it’s OK to ask for help. Throughout the month, our experts will share tips for connecting to mental health resources, addressing the stigma associated with seeking care and much more.

Watch our blog and social channels to learn how you can improve your well-being and connect to resources and support.

In the video above, Regence Executive Medical Director Dr. Jim Polo speaks to the importance of raising awareness during Mental Health Awareness Month and asking for help when you needed it.

Watch Now: Gain Leadership Skills to Help You Connect with Kindness

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To help support wellness in the workplace and beyond, ALLtech is reaching out to invite members and the greater tech community to the valuable workshop series Mindfulness for People Leaders from partner Newfront.

The above video, Connect with Kindndess, is the most recent workshop from March 1, which offers resources to help you:

  • Understand the mistakes that people make when having difficult conversations.
  • Learn the strategies and practices that can make these conversations easier and more productive.

These are important topics after the past two years of unprecedented challenges and transformational change to the workplace, from managing the pandemic to addressing racial inequalities, to enabling a work-from-home workforce. And for each of these challenges, people leaders have been called on to help organizations adapt and thrive. This has stretched people to the limits of their capabilities.

Designed to help people leaders build the mindset and skills to navigate the challenges of their roles, the workshop series provides powerful, mindfulness-based tools and techniques to avoid burnout, increase resilience, and enhance their effectiveness in the crucial roles that they play.

The final workshop in the series from 10-10:45 a.m. March 22 will cover the topic Refill Your Cup, offering tools to help you:

  • Recognize the warning signs of chronic stress and burnout.
  • Build the habits that refresh and energize the body, mind and heart.

Even if you are unable to attend, you can register to receive updates about the series including links to watch the workshops on demand. Previously recorded workshops in the series also can be viewed below:

ALLtech partners with Newfront to offer access to the EVOLVE 401(k) retirement plan. Advanced Professionals Insurance & Benefit Solutions, the managing general agent for ALLtech, also is the wholesale benefits division of Newfront.

Watch Now: Calm the Critic Mindfulness Webinar for People Leaders

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To help support wellness in the workplace and beyond, ALLtech is reaching out to invite members and the greater tech community to the valuable workshop series Mindfulness for People Leaders from partner Newfront.

The above video, Calm the Critic, is the most recent workshop from February 8, which offers resources to help you:

    • Explore the critic that we carry in the mind, and how it can de-motivate us and stress us out.
    • Discover the practices and mental strategies to reduce self-judgment and calm the inner critic.

These are important topics after the past two years of unprecedented challenges and transformational change to the workplace, from managing the pandemic to addressing racial inequalities, to enabling a work-from-home workforce. And for each of these challenges, people leaders have been called on to help organizations adapt and thrive. This has stretched people to the limits of their capabilities.

Designed to help people leaders build the mindset and skills to navigate the challenges of their roles, the workshop series provides powerful, mindfulness-based tools and techniques to avoid burnout, increase resilience, and enhance their effectiveness in the crucial roles that they play.

Next month, the series continues with the following workshops:

  • March 1, 2022: Connect with Kindness
    • Understand the mistakes that people make when having difficult conversations.
    • Learn the strategies and practices that can make these conversations easier and more productive.
  • March 22, 2022: Refill Your Cup
    • Recognize the warning signs of chronic stress and burnout.
    • Build the habits that refresh and energize the body, mind and heart.

Please click below to watch previous workshops in the series:

Know Your Risk Factors and Prioritize Your Health During American Heart Month

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From ALLtech medical provider Regence BlueShield

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more lives than all forms of cancer combined. Although heart disease can affect anyone, women are particularly at risk. Many women are unaware of the risk factors for heart disease, which makes them more vulnerable. In fact, the symptoms of a heart attack are different for women and knowing how to spot them could save lives.

February is American Heart Month — a time to reflect on and bring awareness to the widespread impact of heart disease across the country. This includes National Wear Red Day on Feb. 4 when the American Heart Association (AHA) helps encourage women in particular to take charge of their heart health.

For Tonya Adams, Regence’s senior vice president of customer experience and operations and long-time supporter of AHA, this year’s American Heart Month is particularly personal. In June of 2021, her mother passed away from a stroke, an unexpected loss of a loved one who Tonya describes as the person who took care of everybody — and yet her mother ultimately didn’t do enough to take care of herself. Watch the video below to hear more of Tonya’s story.

Take charge of your heart health

Family medical history is a key risk factor for both heart disease and associated symptoms like high blood pressure and cholesterol. Make sure you know about your family’s health history and talk with your primary care provider (PCP) about your personal heart health during your annual physical.

Nearly 80% of cardiac events can be prevented by making small lifestyle changes like moving more, eating healthy and managing blood pressure. Health plans also offer wellness tools and other resources, including the Regence Empower well-being platform that’s available to most members. Experts on regence.com offer self-care resources and wellness tips, and those who need extra support may reach out to Regence’s care management team.

Regence and the AHA look forward to raising heart health awareness throughout the month of February and beyond.

Watch Now: Don’t Worry, Be Present Mindfulness Webinar for People Leaders

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To help support wellness in the workplace and beyond, ALLtech is reaching out to invite members and the greater tech community to the valuable workshop series Mindfulness for People Leaders from partner Newfront.

The above video, Don’t Worry, Be Present, is the most recent workshop from January 25, which offers resources to help you:

  • Understand how constant change and uncertainty can drain the body and mind.
  • Build the mental habits to help you let go of worry and come back to the present moment with a sense of balance and possibility.

These are important topics after the past two years of unprecedented challenges and transformational change to the workplace, from managing the pandemic to addressing racial inequalities, to enabling a work-from-home workforce. And for each of these challenges, people leaders have been called on to help organizations adapt and thrive. This has stretched people to the limits of their capabilities.

Designed to help people leaders build the mindset and skills to navigate the challenges of their roles, the workshop series provides powerful, mindfulness-based tools and techniques to avoid burnout, increase resilience, and enhance their effectiveness in the crucial roles that they play.

There’s still time to sign up for the next workshop in the series, Calm the Critic at 10 a.m. February 8, 2022, which will:

  • Explore the critic that we carry in the mind, and how it can de-motivate us and stress us out.
  • Discover the practices and mental strategies to reduce self-judgment and calm the inner critic.

Next month, the series continues with the following workshops:

  • March 1, 2022: Connect with Kindness
    • Understand the mistakes that people make when having difficult conversations.
    • Learn the strategies and practices that can make these conversations easier and more productive.
  • March 22, 2022: Refill Your Cup
    • Recognize the warning signs of chronic stress and burnout.
    • Build the habits that refresh and energize the body, mind and heart.

Please click below to watch previous workshops in the series: