ALI to name Wellness Challenge awards

The business group Action Long Island will hold an awards ceremony Wednesday night to announce the winners of its second annual Corporate Wellness Challenge, a program ALI started to help companies help their employees get in shape through exercise, diet and health lectures.

ALI spokeswoman Lisa Serbaniewicz said awards will be given in three categories -- beginner, intermediate and expert -- plus one for "inspiration," to be presented to an employee of one of the winning companies, and one for "motivation," to go to a company that took part in the Challenge lunch-and-learn programs.

Last year two major hospitals -- North Shore Health Systems in Manhasset and Winthrop-University in Mineola -- dropped out of the Challenge, saying they would rather do it by themselves. North Shore is not listed on ALI's program, to be held at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. But Winthrop is. So is Winthrop in or out?

Winthrop spokeswoman Wendy Goldstein said the hospital is out. "What we wanted to do was fulfill the commitment we made to them with regard to the sponsorship of the Wellness Challenge," Goldstein said. "As part of that, we have a table for 10" at the event. "That is the extent of our commitment."