2025 Healthiest State Annual Award Winners Announced

Workplaces, schools, early care providers, health care sites, individuals, and youth honored.

The Healthiest State Initiative has announced the winners of the 2025 Healthiest State Annual Awards presented by Wellabe. The winners were recognized during a ceremony at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny for their efforts to improve the physical, social and mental well-being of their students, patients, employees and fellow Iowans. The winners in the 9 categories are:

Health Care

●     Blank Children’s Pediatrics (Des Moines)

K-12 School

●     Riceville Elementary (Riceville)

Small Early Care

●     Loving Hands Early Care & Education (Newton)

Large Early Care

●     Des Moines Area Community College Child Development Center (Ankeny)

Small Workplace

●     Clarinda Regional Health Center (Clarinda)

Medium Workplace

●     Johnson County Public Health (Iowa City)

Large Workplace

●     Iowa State University (Ames)

Individual

●     Kelli Gerdes (Mason City)

Youth Power

●     Kayla Reiter (West Des Moines)

“It is our honor to recognize our winners with these well-deserved awards,” said Jami Haberl, Healthiest State Initiative executive director. “Building a healthier future for Iowa will take the combined effort of all Iowans, and our winners are inspiring examples of how we can work together to ensure that every Iowan has the opportunity to live their healthiest life.”

Each winner was awarded a monetary prize for a project to continue their work focused on improving the health and wellbeing of their fellow Iowans. The winner’s projects will be announced in 2025. The 2025 Healthiest State Annual Awards were presented by Wellabe, and sponsored by Delta Dental, Holmes Murphy, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and Iowa Medical Society.

PHOTOS: Download photos of the winners in this Dropbox link.

To learn more about the Healthiest State Initiative, its mission, vision and leadership, visit https://www.iowahealthieststate.com/about-us.

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The Healthiest State Initiative is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization driven by the vision that every Iowan has the opportunity to live their healthiest life. By creating awareness and integrating solutions to improve the physical, social, and mental well-being of Iowans, we can realize that vision. For more information, visit http://www.iowahealthieststate.com.