Beaumont Launches 'Be Well Beaumont Day' to Promote Community Health

On January 31, Beaumont residents gathered at Lamar University to celebrate the first-ever "Be Well Beaumont Day," an event dedicated to fostering health and wellness within the community.

This initiative is part of a comprehensive 10-year program led by MD Anderson Cancer Center and generously supported by a $10 million grant from ExxonMobil.

The festivities took place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sheila Umphrey Recreational Sports Center, offering attendees a variety of activities designed to encourage healthy living.

Participants enjoyed live performances, fitness demonstrations, gardening workshops, and a dedicated play area for children.

Additionally, free food distribution and access to numerous health resources were available to all.

Mayor Roy West officially proclaimed January 31 as "Be Well Beaumont Day" earlier this month, emphasizing the city's commitment to enhancing the well-being of its residents.

This observance was initiated by local organizations Gift of Life and the United Way, aiming to reduce cancer-related deaths through education and interactive activities that highlight the enjoyment of wellness.

Phil Matherne, Beaumont's ExxonMobil Integrated Complex Manager, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "ExxonMobil decided to partner with MD Anderson and bring that program here to Beaumont, so we're really excited about it."

He also acknowledged the pivotal role of Lamar University in hosting the event and engaging the community.

"Lamar is hosting us today and really helping us kick this off and bringing out the community to really see what we can do to help awareness for cancer and cancer prevention," Matherne added.

Haley Gardiner, Program Director for Be Well Communities at MD Anderson, highlighted the initiative's scope and local impact.

"Be Well Beaumont Day is our inaugural event here in Beaumont through Be Well Beaumont. It's a 10-year initiative of MD Anderson, that's sponsored by ExxonMobil," Gardiner explained.

She detailed the collaborative network already in place to support the program's goals around nutrition and active living.

"Programs through organizations here in the Beaumont area with BISD, United Way, Gift of Life, The Giving Field, just lots of organizations where we're really focused on nutrition and active living. So getting people out in the community, making sure that they know where to access healthy living programs," said Gardiner.

Gardiner also mentioned innovative plans to integrate wellness into local culture.

"One of the things I really also love is that the art museum is going to bring yoga into the art museum. So it's just a really interesting way to bring collaboration and opportunities to be active and healthier here in Beaumont," she noted.

Expressing gratitude, Gardiner acknowledged the efforts of those instrumental in launching the program, including a steering committee comprising approximately 40 organizations.

"We're so grateful for Lamar University for hosting us today and to ExxonMobil for their support and for all the organizations that show up every month to be a part of our steering committee," Gardiner said.

"It's around 40 organizations, and they've just jumped into this initiative and hit the ground running, and we've accomplished so much in such a short period of time, and I'm just so grateful for everything that they've done."

The success of the inaugural Be Well Beaumont Day underscores the community's dedication to promoting health and wellness, setting a promising foundation for the decade-long initiative ahead.