GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 22, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Steelcase, the global leader in the office furniture industry, will award a Walkstation(R) Fitness Office -- a height-adjustable workstation with an integrated treadmill -- to three offices during a Walk-a-Thon "Walk-For-Good" contest beginning next month. In collaboration with TOMS Shoes, the contest will raise awareness of the demand for shoes for children in need, and demonstrate the value of movement throughout the work day.
To enter, teams must submit a video of two minutes or less along with a brief essay demonstrating why their office should receive a Walkstation. The three selected winners will receive a Walkstation and will participate in a Walk-a-Thon that will take place between December 6 and December 18, 2009 at each of the three winning locations. Participants at those locations will record each mile walked on their Walkstation and tweet about their experience on twitter.com. Steelcase will make a donation at the close of the Walk-a-Thon to Friends of TOMS, the non-profit organization of TOMS Shoes (www.tomsshoes.com) and credit each office team proportionally for their participation. Other fun prizes will be awarded along the way based on teams achieving participation milestones.
Today's approach to ergonomics is not about static postures and static thinking. It's all about movement throughout the day. The Walkstation enables workers to walk at a normal pace and accomplish virtually all of the tasks they would normally handle while seated. It is the fully integrated combination of an electric height-adjustable worksurface with an exclusively engineered, low speed commercial grade treadmill. And it's the first product in the entirely new FitWork(TM) category of products from Details, a Steelcase company, designed to bring healthy habits to sedentary workers while they are actually working. More information on the Walkstation can be found at www.details-worktools.com.
"When we walk any distance we definitely appreciate our shoes," said Rob Poel, manager of the online Steelcase store. "Tying a contest centered on walking to TOMS Shoes' mission to provide shoes to children who don't have them seems like a fun way to draw attention to this great cause, while also promoting the value of movement throughout the work day."
Submissions for the contest can be made at http://store.steelcase.com/go/walkstation-contest. The winners will be chosen by the Steelcase Store team and will be judged based on a combination of creativity, originality and promotion of healthy habits at work. Winners will be notified by November 18, via email.
The public is invited to track the progress of the Walk-a-Thon teams starting December 7, 2009 at http://store.steelcase.com/go/walkstation-contest.
About Steelcase Inc.
Steelcase Inc. helps create great experiences - wherever work happens. Our brands offer a comprehensive portfolio of workplace furnishings; products and services, inspired by nearly 100 years of insight gained serving the world's leading organizations. We are globally accessible through a network of channels, including over 800 dealers. We design for social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Steelcase is a global, publicly traded company leading our industry with fiscal 2009 revenue of approximately $3.2 billion. For more information, visit steelcase.com.
The Steelcase Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=4484
About Steelcase Store
The Steelcase online store provides easy access to office furniture for those who value performance, design, and comfort. The Steelcase Store offers simple and convenient online purchasing options, exceptional customer service, free shipping and our free white-glove installation services. For more information, visit store.steelcase.com.
About TOMS Shoes
TOMS simple One for One commitment to give a pair of new shoes to children in need around the world with every pair sold is revolutionizing the way consumers shop; with TOMS, shopping equals giving. TOMS One for One business model transforms our customers into benefactors, which allows us to grow a truly sustainable business rather than depending on fundraising for support.
This One for One model has encouraged conscientious consumers to purchase and give more than 150,000 pairs of new shoes to children in need in just three years. By the end of 2009, TOMS will give an additional 300,000 pairs of new shoes to children in need around the world, including at home in the U.S. For more information, visit tomsshoes.com