CoverMyQuest 2021 Winners: Where Are They Now?
Not only will 2022’s CoverMyQuest event — with 30 planned winners — be the biggest yet, but it also marks a major milestone. It’s our 10th annual CoverMyQuest, and we’re set to give away $150,000 in mini-grants. To inspire employees to apply, we caught up with 2021’s winners to get updates on their quests and explore next steps in their journeys.
For many employees, the annual CoverMyQuest contest is synonymous with CoverMyMeds’ culture. Not only will 2022’s event — with 30 planned winners — be the biggest yet, but it also marks a major milestone. It’s our 10th annual CoverMyQuest, and we’re set to give away $150,000 in mini-grants to deserving employees.
Maddie Wallace, people engagement lead at CoverMyMeds, took over CoverMyQuest planning in February 2022 and is spearheading this year’s event. Her goal, she said, is to entice at least 500 employees to apply.
Of course, that’s a lot of applications to get through. That’s why applicants will be challenged to summarize their proposed quests in 280 characters or less — about the length of a tweet. That way, Maddie said, the panel of judges can quickly read through applications and choose 50 “finalists” to move forward with three-minute pitch videos.
Here’s a full breakdown of CoverMyQuest 2022’s schedule of events:
- Aug. 29: CoverMyQuest opens for written pitches
- Sept. 9: Written pitches close, judges deliberate
- Sept. 16: Judges notify finalists; finalists prepare videos
- Sept. 26: Pitch videos are due to judges
- Sept. 26-Oct. 14: Judges deliberate pitch videos
- Oct. 14: CoverMyQuest winners announced
To help inspire a diverse array of applications and pitches this year, Maddie and her team are introducing six different “categories” employees can pick from:
Volunteerism
- Example: Build houses in Haiti for Habitat for Humanity
Adventure
- Example: Take family on vacation to Ireland to see ancestral lands
Healthcare
- Example: Raise funds to cover medical treatment costs for family member
Philanthropy
- Example: Sponsor mission trip to Uganda to empower local community
DIY
- Example: Buy parts for and build a 1950s-style vintage car
Weirdness
- Example: Become a beekeeper (see Chelsea Snyder’s quest update below!)
To further inspire employees to apply to 2022’s CoverMyQuest, we caught up with 2021’s winners to get updates on their quests and explore next steps in their journeys.
Ben Blotsky: Purchase new holiday lights to spread seasonal cheer
“The funds for lighting provided a huge boost to my 2021 holiday display! The 'Night of Lights' event was wildly successful with an estimated 6,000 cars coming through our neighborhood that night alone. On other nights, we usually had anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 cars drive through to look. So far, we’ve raised just under $40,000 for two families in the neighborhood. I’m so grateful to CoverMyQuest for helping to raise spirits during the holiday season.”
Brigette Bartlett: Jumpstart photography career with new camera to pay for IVF
“I got my camera body back in December 2021, which reinvigorated my photography business! I’ve had several sessions that brought me joy and helped meet some financial goals, one of which was moving forward with IVF this summer. My husband and I are currently going through the IVF process and hope to share good news soon regarding our efforts to build a biological family.”
I've become a beekeeper, officially. My life has totally changed — I’m obsessed and madly in love with bees!
Chelsea Snyder: Plant pollinator gardens and establish an apiary for bees
“I've become a beekeeper, officially. My life has totally changed — I’m obsessed and madly in love with bees! My quest has snowballed into something way bigger than I ever could've imagined. Now I'm working with master beekeepers on honeybee research, and I've become part of The Ohio Queen Bee Improvement Project. We're rescuing swarms of wild bees to promote sustainable beekeeping, and we're studying mite biting behavior.”
Alan Cooper: Travel across U.S. with family, no electronics allowed
“After winning CoverMyQuest, I discussed my plans for an RV trip with my wife and learned I should’ve talked to her first — she explained that driving in something like an RV increases her anxiety, so we had to retool our mode of transportation. Instead, we flew to Portland, Oregon, and split our time between Olympic National Park and Deschutes National Forest and hit a couple of quirky pit stops: Crater Lake and the Painted Hills.”
Fernando Gonzalez-Garcia: Surprise parents with a vacation to Spain
“Due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns and my mom getting knee surgery, we had to delay our vacation to Spain. However, we’ve finally booked our flights, and we’re going from Oct. 6-12. The trip can’t come soon enough!”
Chelsea Howe: Chase the Loch Ness Monster with Grandma in Scottish Highlands
“With the ongoing war in Ukraine, I haven’t been able to complete my quest yet. My grandma and I are hoping to visit the Scottish Highlands next summer!”
Dave Humeston: Road trip with nurse partner for a reprieve from COVID-19
“Amy, the nurse, Izzy, the dog, and I went on an oh-so-epic CoverMyQuest adventure in March! We rented a campervan and safely travelled to 17 states and 12 national parks — we stayed in the van and cooked our own meals to minimize any COVID-19 exposures. We had some hairy moments getting over mountain passes in the Pacific Northwest and the Rockies, but we mostly cruised pleasantly along. We are so appreciative for this trip — thank you, CoverMyMeds!”
CoverMyQuest By the Numbers
- 10 years of CoverMyQuests
- 76 CoverMyQuest winners
- $310,050 awarded to employees
- 22 total countries traveled to
- 27 total trips taken
- 18 organizations helped
Giancarlo Salerno: Funds for a nonprofit ensemble, 4th Wall Performing Arts
“After six months of rehearsals — roughly 30 hours every weekend — late nights building props, performing at several competitions and navigating obstacles that came in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, we went to World Finals to compete against the best of the best! Now that the competitive season has concluded, we’re putting together our framework for next season so we can create a product that is not only enjoyable to view, but also incredibly fulfilling for our performers.”
Faith Mclean: Compose music in Italy as part of The Alba Music Festival
“My composition was featured in the Alba Music Festival in Italy, and it was life changing! I was able to hear my music played by live musicians, meet and gain other opportunities from different musical composers and learn and grow my personal compositional skills. CoverMyMeds made a dream come true and I will be forever grateful.”
Kayla Krekeler: Travel to Australia to spend time with long-distance partner
“Unfortunately, due to long-term COVID-19 restrictions in Australia, I was unable to complete my quest as planned. However, I'm very much looking forward to visiting Australia sometime soon!”
Abigail Weah: Purchase and build water pump system for village in West Africa
“On behalf of the people of Rock Hill Community, thank you to CoverMyQuest for helping me achieve this great initiative! Today the families living in that community have access to clean, safe drinking water. Due to personal health concerns and some miscommunication, the project got temporarily delayed, but now the entire community is celebrating CoverMyQuest. I’m receiving requests from other communities, as well, who want the same water pump system.”
Melinda Chau: Donate to Vietnam foster care organization for deaf children
“Since CoverMyQuest, we’ve raised funds for a soundproof room with audio equipment for the orphans I support in Vietnam. However, due to the pandemic causing global shortages, the construction company has had a hard time sourcing all the necessary materials, but we’re working tirelessly to make sure tasks are checked off! As of now, the audio room is planned to be completed in October 2022, when it will be opened to benefit those children who are deaf and hard of hearing.”
Bethany Osborne: Take family on a culinary expedition of New England
“In May, my family traveled to New England to complete my culinary quest! We started the trip in Providence, Rhode Island, touring my alma mater's campus with one of my chef instructors before navigating to Cape Cod for the next leg of the trip. We ate our way through Chatham, Falmouth and Nantucket. We ended our trip in Newport, Rhode Island, at the annual Oyster & Chowder Festival. It truly was the picturesque, most delicious trip of our dreams!”
Nella Villalobos: Plan a future in the United States and support father’s health
“I was able to get my dad an electric wheelchair — driving lessons pending, LOL! He drives around the neighborhood and when we go out on weekends. He loves to feel more independent and ride around on his own. As for my change of status, we were able to file everything in November 2021. As of today, it’s still pending. We’re waiting for the scheduled interview from immigration, which will hopefully occur in September.”
After months of intense training, I completed my first Ironman on July 24 … I never could have done it without the support of this amazing company.
Scott Bowers: Compete in the Ironman Triathlon to inspire friends and family
“After months of intense training, I completed my first Ironman on July 24 at Lake Placid. I learned so many lessons along the way, and I never could have done it without the support of my family, friends and this amazing company who made my dream a reality. From a kid inspired by his father to do something once unimaginable, I now get the opportunity to inspire my future children to make their dreams come true and know that their dad was an Ironman.”
Beth Collen: Supporting foster kids in Cleveland through Parrot Head Run event
“My CoverMyQuest funds went toward the 2022 Parrot Head Run finisher medals, and CoverMyMeds is on the logo! The race was in Cleveland on July 23. Of note, Parrot Head Run is a virtual and in-person race, and 100% of its proceeds go to Fostering Hope, an Ohio children’s charity that connects and enriches youth who live in residential treatment and foster care with unique experiences of hope and healing.”
Jake Barry: Pizza-making equipment to support cancer research
“Thanks to CoverMyQuest, I’ve acquired a professional dough mixer, an ergonomic stand for my pizza oven and a heater to support events in the colder months. All I need now is a small trailer to transport everything! I’m so grateful to CoverMyQuest for the opportunity to reach more people through my pizza-making fundraiser for cancer research. Check out The Brink on Instagram to follow along!”
Crystal Browning: Fund IVF treatment to get pregnant and have a baby
“When I won CoverMyQuest in 2021, I had just had egg retrieval surgery. We ended up with four genetically viable embryos. We moved forward with embryo transfers with the money won. However, we have had three failed transfers. With one remaining embryo, our doctor is wanting us to consider surrogacy. We are not accepting defeat, so we are looking to get a second opinion.”
We awarded four $500 scholarships in June to four high school seniors … We’re thrilled to be able to continue our daughter’s mission of helping others.
Diana Vuick: Start high school band scholarship in honor of daughter, Brandi
“We awarded four $500 scholarships in June to four high school seniors who go above and beyond in scholastic excellence, extracurricular activities and demonstrate perseverance through an obstacle(s) during their high school career. We’re thrilled to be able to continue our daughter’s mission of helping others through this scholarship. We will continue her legacy in the coming years.”
CoverMyQuest 2022 opens for applications Aug. 29
Congratulations, again, to 2021’s winners and good luck to 2022’s applicants! If you’re a CoverMyMeds employee who’s interested in applying but don’t know where to begin, contact Maddie Wallace for more information.
2022’s CoverMyQuest winners will be announced soon. Follow CoverMyMeds on Facebook for updates and visit our blog to learn more.
