PITTSBURGH, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield has awarded $125,000 in grants to 9 area schools to help fight childhood obesity. The "Highmark Challenge for Healthier Schools" funds school programs that address better nutritional choices and physical activity among children.
The grants were awarded to schools spread out over seven counties. Four elementary schools, three middle schools and two high schools will receive grant money to implement their winning programs during the 2004-05 or 2005-06 academic school years.
"The schools chosen as this year's challenge winners showed creativity and a clear method to measure results from their programs," said Aaron Walton, Highmark's senior vice president of Corporate Affairs. "As a region, it's important we all take responsibility for the obesity epidemic among our children. The challenge is a great way to engage schools in becoming a part of the solution."
Obesity and inactivity have reached epidemic proportions among today's youth. Children today are at greater risk for the health consequences of being overweight than any generation before them. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 15 percent or about 9 million children ages 6 to 19, are considered obese in the United States.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
:.
0 comments:
Post a Comment