The Woods at Cedar Run team member Connie Smith had her name drawn as the lucky winner of a 2024 Kia Forte in IntegraCare’s Continued Attendance Rewards CAR Program contest.
IntegraCare CAR Program Rewards Team Members Who Don’t Miss Work
CAMP HILL, Pa. – Connie Smith seemed to encounter one challenge after another as she prepared for work at The Woods at Cedar Run on May 16.
For the past five years, Smith has been a part-time community experience ambassador at the senior living community in Camp Hill. This particular afternoon was slightly different than others. Earlier in the day, Smith had to assist a family member who hadn’t been feeling well. Later, she mowed her lawn, hoping to finish ahead of a forecasted rain shower.
Turns out, Smith’s timing was impeccable.
She arrived at The Woods just as the winner of IntegraCare’s Continued Attendance Rewards (CAR) Program was about to be announced. Since 2016, IntegraCare has rewarded its employees with perfect attendance — with one lucky team member winning a new car.
Smith’s name randomly was drawn from among 49,821 entries in a raffle as part of IntegraCare’s 2023-24 CAR Program. She won a bright orange 2024 Kia Forte and a $1,000 check toward her first year of auto insurance on the vehicle.
“Unreal,” an emotional Smith said after her name was announced by Ryen Novosel, Onboarding Specialist at The Woods. “Thank you. It’s been quite a day.”
The car winner announcement capped a celebration throughout 17 IntegraCare communities located in three states.
“Our CAR Program has evolved into one of the most exciting and anticipated events of the year,” said Shannon Joyce, IntegraCare Director of Human Resources and Risk Management. “Think about it. Team members have an opportunity to win a new car or one of the many other grand prizes simply because they showed up for work. Reliable transportation is a big part of our team members’ lives and directly impacts their performance at work. We are honored to be able to provide a program that offers them this life-changing opportunity.”
IntegraCare had 740 different team members earn at least one ticket in the drawing, based on their receiving a raffle ticket for having a perfect week of attendance. A total of 50 IntegraCare team members had perfect attendance for the entire year in 2023.
Smith was among those with perfect attendance last year.
“Not only is Connie a friendly face that greets you when you walk through the front door at The Woods, she also is a team trainer who is willing to step up to help pick up shifts and she assists with resident activities,” Joyce said. “Connie has a welcoming demeanor. Her enthusiasm, caring and calm attitude are evident each day she comes to work.”
IntegraCare has given away a vehicle as part of its innovative CAR Program every year since the first contest was held in 2016 (based on 2015 attendance). The inaugural contest kicked off in impressive fashion as as IntegraCare presented a new car to a lucky team member at eight different senior living communities it operated back then.
The contest, like IntegraCare, has grown since 2015. Team members earn raffle tickets for each week of perfect attendance accumulated throughout the year. Those tickets are collected at each community and are included in the overall drawing.
In addition to the new car, IntegraCare also presents grand prizes and other giveaways at its communities located in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. The annual event is live-streamed on IntegraCare’s Facebook page and promoted on individual communities’ social media platforms.
Some of this year’s big-tickets prizes included an Echo Show HD Smart Display, a Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headset and a Ninja 14-in-1 multicooker.
On the day of the car giveaway, Joyce and Brittany Balouris, IntegraCare Director of Team Member Experience and Engagement, secretly drove to The Woods as team members throughout IntegraCare watched the live stream, hoping to see the Kia Forte pull up to their community.
IntegraCare’s CAR Program has made an impact on attendance. Total IntegraCare team members with perfect attendance during the CAR Program years has consistently increased:
2016 perfect attendance – 15
2017 perfect attendance – 20
2018 perfect attendance – 24
2019 perfect attendance – 35
2020 perfect attendance – 36
2021 perfect attendance – 30
2022 perfect attendance – 42
2023 perfect attendance – 50
This year, three new IntegraCare senior living communities in Pennsylvania participated in the CAR Program. Those are Exton Senior Living, Glen Mills Senior Living and The Residence at Presque Isle Bay in Erie.
“Through nine years, the CAR Program has been a life-changing experience that rewards dedicated IntegraCare team members for their commitment to our senior living communities, the residents and their fellow team members,” IntegraCare CEO Larry Rouvelas said. “At IntegraCare, we are fortunate to have a truly caring and compassionate team. Connie is one of 53 people who showed up to work every day in 2023. We appreciate her and all of our team members.”
For more information, contact Shannon Joyce, IntegraCare Director of Human Resources and Risk Management, at sjoyce@integracare.com or 724.940.5544, Ext. 109.