LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 14, 2006) – An advocate for nutrition and health will be honored during the 2006 International SPA Association Conference & Expo, Nov. 6 – 9 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Dr. Michael Jacobson, co-founder and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), is the recipient of the ISPA 2006 Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award.

“ISPA is sincerely honored to recognize Dr. Michael Jacobson as the recipient of the 2006 Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award,” said ISPA Chairman Kate Mearns. “Through his relentless campaigning for healthy behavioral choices, Dr. Jacobson has profoundly impacted millions of individuals worldwide. He exemplifies the meaning of the word humanitarian.”

Some of the criteria considered for potential recipients of this award include their contributions toward integrative medicine, active promotion of preventive health and appropriate lifestyle behavioral changes that contribute to longevity and quality of life. Dr. Jacobson’s life work typifies these criteria. For more than 30 years, he has been an advocate for accuracy in food labeling and disclosure of nutrition information. Dr. Jacobson was among the first to combat junk-food advertising aimed at children and to address the nutritional quality of school meals. CSPI, the organization he co-founded in 1971, was the driving force behind consumer protections such as warning notices on alcoholic beverage labels and the Nutrition and Labeling Education Act, which required nutrition information to be included on food labels.

In 2002, ISPA renamed the Humanitarian Award the Alex Szekely Humanitarian Award to ensure that the late Alex Szekely’s vision for ISPA and humanity continue to resonate for years to come. Deborah Szekely accepted the award on her son’s behalf in 2002 and in 2005, was the recipient herself. Deborah Szekely has presented the award to Dr. Kenneth Cooper, founder of the Cooper Institute and Aerobics Center and Ruth Stricker, founder of the Marsh, a Center for Balance and Fitness.

Dr. Michael Jacobson will receive the ISPA 2006 Visionary Award on Nov. 7 during that day’s General Session. Following the award presentation, he will also be part of the Visionary Panel, which is always one of the most memorable parts of the ISPA Conference & Expo.

About ISPA
ISPA is recognized worldwide as the leading professional organization and voice of the spa industry. Founded in 1991, ISPA’s membership is comprised of more than 2,500 health and wellness facilities and providers from 73 countries. ISPA strives to advance the professionalism of the spa industry by providing invaluable educational and networking opportunities, to promote the value of the spa experience to society and to be the authoritative voice of the spa industry.

Spas are entities devoted to enhancing overall well-being through a variety of professional services that encourage the renewal of mind, body and spirit.