Partnership will highlight GE's healthymagination platform, innovative healthcare technology
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- GE and the PGA TOUR today announced a new three-year Official Marketing Partnership that advances GE's healthymagination commitment in local communities by bringing PGA TOUR players and consumers together with GE innovations that increase access and improve quality and efficiency around the world. Healthymagination innovations will be showcased at eight PGA TOUR events in 2011 -- on the course through on-site exhibition and for audiences watching at home.
GE becomes the Official Medical Diagnostic Imaging Equipment Sponsor and Official Electronic Medical Records Management Solutions Sponsor of the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.
"The PGA TOUR is very excited to partner with GE and healthymagination," said Tom Wade, PGA TOUR chief marketing officer. "GE is a dynamic company that is bringing its innovation and knowledge to the PGA TOUR in an exciting, interactive way. We see this as an opportunity to educate both our players and our fans about their own health in a fun and creative way. We're grateful for GE's support of the PGA TOUR and look forward to working together in the coming years."
PGA TOUR members Jim Furyk and Sean O'Hair have joined GE as ambassadors for the healthymagination program. They will help activate the partnership with consumers and media.
"We are eager to partner with the PGA TOUR as well as Jim Furyk and Sean O'Hair as another step forward in our healthymagination commitment to deliver better health to more people," said Mike Barber, vice president of healthymagination. "Through the PGA TOUR sponsorship, GE will share high-tech innovations -- like ultrasound, MR and Lunar body composition testing -- with millions of consumers."
The GE Pavilion will be present at eight tournaments this season, beginning with this week's Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, and feature interactive technology and activities for fans. These include:
- Golf Swing Analyzer - Showcases the mechanics behind your golf swing, focusing on muscle use
- Swing Upload Zone -- Enables uploading of fans' swing analyzer videos to Facebook and email
- Body Composition Scanning -- Provides a body composition analysis on GE's Lunar technology
- Healthy You -- Offers a self-guided educational experience that includes topics such as golf instruction, fitness and nutrition
The GE Pavilion also will be present at the Wells Fargo Championship, Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, AT&T National, The Greenbrier Classic, The Barclays, Deutsche Bank Championship and THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola.
In addition to the fan experience, GE's Lunar technology will be made available to players on the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour. This technology provides a detailed analysis of bone health and body composition, providing athletes a better understanding of how diet, lifestyle and exercise programs are influencing their body's make-up.
GE launched healthymagination in May 2009 to focus on achieving sustainable health through innovation by lowering costs while improving quality and access. Through healthymagination, GE is committed to making better health a reality by changing the delivery and economics of healthcare with simpler, easier-to-use technologies; more portable, miniature devices; and tools to help hospital customers serve patients better and at reduced costs.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world's toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, medical imaging, and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.ge.com
About GE's healthymagination Initiative
Launched in May 2009, GE's healthymagination initiative is focused on four critical needs: low-cost technology; healthcare IT; innovation accessible to all; and consumer-driven healthcare. GE has committed that by 2015 it will:
- Invest $3 billion in research and development to launch at least 100 innovations that will help deliver better care to more people at lower cost.
- Provide $2 billion in financing and $1 billion in technology to bring healthcare information technology to rural and underserved areas.
- Reduce the cost of procedures that use GE technologies and services by 15 percent and develop products tailored to underserved regions of the world.
- Reach 100 million more people every year with services and technologies essential for health.
More information at http://www.healthymagination.com
About PGA TOUR
The PGA TOUR is the world's premier membership organization for touring professional golfers, co-sanctioning more than 100 tournaments on the PGA TOUR, Champions Tour and Nationwide Tour.
The PGA TOUR's mission is to entertain and inspire its fans, deliver substantial value to its partners, create outlets for volunteers to give back, generate significant charitable and economic impact in communities in which it plays, and provide financial opportunities for TOUR players.
In 2011, the three Tours collectively have tournaments in 29 states and in 12 countries and territories outside of the United States. PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to nearly 600 million households in 225 countries and territories in 30 languages.
Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2010, tournaments on the three Tours generated $120 million for local charitable organizations, bringing the TOUR's all-time total of charitable contributions to more than $1.6 billion.
The PGA TOUR's web site is PGATOUR.COM, the No. 1 site in golf, and the organization is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL.
Stacey Tank
GE Corporate
[email protected]
203-373-2727
203-556-6990
Chris Smith