Showing posts with label childhood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label childhood. Show all posts

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Georgia's Youth Receives a $323,392 Grant From Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia to Exercise Their Minds, Bodies and Souls

/PRNewswire/ -- As a part of its ongoing work to address childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles in Georgia, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia (BCBSGa) today announced a three-year, $323,392 grant from its corporate foundation to Boys &Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) which will support the organization's proven health and wellness program, Triple Play, at local Clubs throughout the state.

Created by BGCA in 2005 with founding sponsor Coca-Cola, Triple Play: A Game Plan for the Mind, Body and Soul encourages Club members to eat healthier (mind), become more physically active (body) and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships (soul). To date, more than one million young people have participated in the program.

"We are truly committed to improving the lives of the people we serve and the health of our communities and Boys & Girls Clubs of America shares that commitment," said Morgan Kendrick, president, BCBSGa. "Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia is proud to support the Triple Play program because we know that if we give our kids a healthy start, they can hopefully avoid life-long health issues and spend their time achieving their dreams."

The Georgia-focused funds are part of a $5 million grant from the parent company's Foundation, which will support Triple Play programming in all 50 states and several Triple Play-related initiatives in 2011. These include an attempt to break a physical activity-related Guinness World Record and helping Club families get healthy through the second annual Triple Play Fit Family Challenge.

Boys & Girls Club of America estimates that the grant will benefit more than 1,620 youth throughout Georgia.

"Too many children are not eating smart and getting the proper amount of exercise," said Wayne Moss, senior director, Sports, Fitness & Recreation, BGCA. "Our Triple Play program directly addresses this issue by teaching kids fun ways to stay active, setting the stage for a lifetime of healthy habits."

Triple Play is proven to improve lifestyles and behaviors. A two year study of more than 2,000 children ages 9-14 showed that Triple Play succeeded in getting them to exercise more, eat healthier foods and feel better about themselves. The study found that Triple Play kids increased to 90 percent of the federally recommended amount of daily exercise, which is 60 minutes a day for children, while their peers outside the program decreased to 78 percent.

The grant is an important part of BCBSGa's commitment to addressing health disparities and improving public health throughout the state. Through its State Health Index – a compilation of public health measures – the health plan continually works to identify the issues most in need of attention and directs its charitable support and volunteer efforts toward improving health in those areas.

"The State Health Index truly guides and shapes our work throughout Georgia," said Robert McCormack, medical director for BCBSGa. "By tracking our progress year-over-year we are working to make sure that the programs we support and the fine work of our non-profit partners really is improving health."

"The short- and long-term dangers associated with childhood obesity bring special importance to our work with Boys & Girls Club of America. We are excited to partner with our local Clubs to help them to head off one of the country's most pressing health challenges," McCormack continued.

More information about the Triple Play program is available at www.bgca.org/tripleplay.

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Friday, January 21, 2011

WellPoint Foundation Awards $5 Million Grant to Develop National Partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to Combat Childhood Obesity

/PRNewswire/ -- The WellPoint Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) have something strong in common when it comes to the wellness of children – the belief that living a healthy lifestyle today provides a pathway to a great future. It's this belief that spurs today's announcement that the WellPoint Foundation has signed on as a national partner of BGCA. The Foundation joins the organization as co-sponsor of BGCA's Triple Play program, along with founding sponsor Coca-Cola.

Triple Play: A Game Plan for the Mind, Body and Soul is BGCA's proven health and wellness program. It was created in 2005 to encourage Club members to eat healthier (mind), become more physically active (body) and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships (soul). To date, more than one million young people have participated in the program.

The WellPoint Foundation, the philanthropic arm of WellPoint, Inc., has committed $5 million over three years to support Triple Play. The foundation's funding represents its largest grant in its 10-year history and will bring the program to more communities and support several of BGCA's Triple Play-related initiatives in 2011. These include an attempt to break a physical activity-related Guinness World Record and helping Club families get healthy through the second annual Triple Play Fit Family Challenge.

"As champions of youth health promotion, we recognize that reducing childhood obesity rates lowers the risk for many preventable diseases," said Lance Chrisman, executive director of the WellPoint Foundation. "By aggressively targeting youth and families through Triple Play, we strive to instill life-long healthy habits at an early age – before bad habits set in."

Roxanne Spillett, president and CEO of BGCA, added, "America is faced with challenges when it comes to the health and well being of our young people. Thanks to the support of the WellPoint Foundation and the continued support of Coca-Cola, Boys &; Girls Clubs are continuing to make a positive impact on improving the health of the more than four million young people we serve."

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Saturday, November 27, 2010

Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation Awards $144,000 in Grants to Combat Childhood Obesity in Georgia

/PRNewswire -- The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation has awarded $144,441 to organizations working to reduce childhood obesity among Georgia's schoolchildren.

The investments include a $73,300 award to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Children's) to support the Georgia Student Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) Partnership, a public-private initiative focused on improving student health and wellness. The partnership is the result of HB 229, signed by Governor Sonny Perdue during the 2009 legislative session, which requires all students in physical education courses to receive an annual fitness assessment.

"We are thrilled to help bring to life Governor Perdue's vision for improving the health and wellness of students," said Penelope McPhee, president of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, of which the Falcons Youth Foundation is an affiliated fund. "We look forward to working with Governor-Elect Nathan Deal to extend the promise of the SHAPE Partnership to every student in Georgia."

Children's will use its grant to provide HOPSports Training Systems and technical assistance to five county school districts chosen to pilot the fitness testing: Hall, Gwinnett, Bibb, White and Lowndes. As a partner in the National Football League's Play 60 campaign, HOPSports has proven success in helping schools engage large numbers of students in physical activity at the same time.

Children's will also help two school districts, Muscogee and Forsyth, test a new product, Brain Breaks, which gives teachers up to 100 brief physical activity lessons – three to seven minutes each – drawn from the HOPSports content library. Increasing the time students spend in activity, even in short bursts, has been shown to improve classroom behavior and academic performance.

The Falcons Youth Foundation's latest round of grants also includes awards to:

YMCA of Metro Atlanta

$50,000 to launch in-school and after-school Falcons Fitness Zone programming at Peachtree Hope Charter School.

Sodexo-Jackmont/Atlanta Public Schools

$11,141 to support wellness programs teaching students healthy eating habits, including a breakfast program that increases participation by delivering nutritious meals directly to students and a program that offers Falcons-related prizes at six elementary schools to promote healthier menu items at lunch, including locally grown produce.

After-School All-Stars Atlanta

$10,000 to launch the Camp Carrot Seed project, engaging at least 50 Falcon Fitness Zone students in organic gardening and providing a source of food for City of Refuge families.

With these grant awards, the youth foundation's giving surpasses $1 million for 2010. In addition, this year the foundation is managing $47,000 in funds raised through sales of Atlanta Falcons specialty license plates, which will help SHAPE Partnership schools acquire HOPSports systems, and $3,500 in donations from a Falcons fan group, which will help the After-School All-Stars implement Camp Carrot Seed.

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Friday, October 01, 2010

Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation Awards $163,500 in Grants to Combat Childhood Obesity in Georgia

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation (AFYF) has awarded six grants totaling $163,500 to nonprofit organizations working to reduce childhood obesity among Georgia's schoolchildren.

The investments include a three-year $120,000 award to Appalachian Community Enterprises (ACE) for two innovative projects designed to provide low-income families with greater access to affordable, healthy food.

With the grant, ACE will partner with Truly Living Well Natural Urban Farms to develop a five-acre fruit and vegetable garden in Atlanta's Old Fourth Ward. ACE will also partner with The Food Trust to help independent grocers open grocery stores in neighborhoods where residents currently lack access to fresh produce.

"Our grant investments are moving more Georgia children from sedentary to active lifestyles and bringing more affordable, healthy food to Georgia families," said Penelope McPhee, president of The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation. AFYF is an affiliated fund of the Blank Family Foundation.

Also part of its childhood obesity initiative, AFYF supported the Blank Family Foundation's September 23 Speaker Series program examining the link between physical fitness, student outcomes and brain development. Visit the Foundation's web site (http://blankfoundation.org/news/SpeakerSeries.html) to view a video of the program.

AFYF's latest round of awards includes grants to:

Playworks

$15,000 to train 400 staff members from Falcons Fitness Zone grant partners, including Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCA staff, to increase their effectiveness at engaging youth in physical activities and play. Playworks will also provide training to 30 – 60 teens to lead games and physical activities at their after-school program sites.

Georgia Organics

$10,500 to enable the East Lake Farmers Market to accept EBT swipe cards used by low-income families accessing food benefits. With the grant, East Lake Farmers Market will become the seventh farmers market in Georgia to take part in the Wholesome Wave Foundation double-coupon program, where families using EBT cards receive $2 of produce for every $1 spent.

KiDsGyM

$5,000 to deliver Flipping For Life, a gymnastics instruction and education program to children ages 9 – 12 at the Whitehead Boys & Girls Club in South Atlanta.

Atlanta Ballet

$5,000 to deliver the Centre Dance program to K-5 students at Parklane Elementary School in East Point, providing kinesthetic learning activities during and after school.

Georgia Mountains YMCA

$5,000 to expand programming through the Mobile Fitness Gym, which brings fitness activities and equipment to youth across Hall County.

Fuel Up to Play 60

$3,000 for the Southeastern United Dairy Association to provide fitness equipment to schools participating in its Fuel Up to Play 60 partnership.

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Aflac Celebrates 10 Years of its Iconic Duck with $2 Million for Aflac Cancer Center

/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the company that pays policyholders cash fast when they are injured or ill, will celebrate its 10th year airing television commercials featuring the Aflac Duck by renewing its commitment to the fight against childhood cancer this September. The company is pledging a corporate gift of $2 million to the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, bringing the total money raised by Aflac for childhood cancer research and treatment to $60 million since 1995. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

"We are please to continue our deep and long-standing support of pediatric cancer through this gift," Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos said. "The terrific men and women who work the front lines at the Aflac Cancer Center work hard to save lives and restore hope for families touched by cancer. They deserve our unending support."

Aflac, whose primary philanthropic cause has been the Aflac Cancer Center since 1995, has often lent the Aflac Duck's image to the cause of raising money and awareness for pediatric cancer. The Aflac Duck, a corporate advertising icon, has been used in fundraising literature and fundraising events while 100 percent of the proceeds from special plush Aflac Ducks that have been sold to the public since 2001 go toward childhood cancer research and treatment.

"People know and love the Aflac Duck as a corporate advertising icon," said Aflac Foundation President Kathelen Amos. "But many people are not aware that the Aflac Duck is also a symbol in the fight against pediatric cancer, and we could not be more pleased to lend our support and our iconic company image to this cause."

In addition to corporate donations, Aflac's independent sales force contributes regularly to the Aflac Cancer Center. Each month, more than 16,000 agents donate more than $325,000 from their commission checks. In addition, Aflac employees at the company's headquarters in Columbus, Georgia, routinely donate through payroll deductions while others will donate their time taking company-sponsored bus trips to the Aflac Cancer Center to spend time with children at the hospital.

"While September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we want to be certain people know that our friends at Aflac support the Aflac Cancer Center's team and patients year-round and have done so since 1995," said Dr. William G. Woods, Director of the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "It is impossible to put into words what $60 million and countless volunteer hours from Aflac mean to children with cancer and blood disorders. But we do know that this amazing commitment gives real movement toward a cure for childhood cancer and blood disorders and inevitably a brighter future for kids everywhere."

In October Aflac will continue to celebrate the Aflac Duck's 10th birthday with a special program in conjunction with Beads of Courage, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that provides special beads to children with cancer to help chronicle their treatments and milestones. The company is sponsoring a special new Aflac Wingman bead to honor the courage of children with cancer and to let them know that there are people who support them during their fight against cancer.

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Wednesday, September 08, 2010

CURE Childhood Cancer Announces 6th Annual “A Tribute to Our Quiet Heroes”


September 25 Luncheon Hosted by Chris Glavine to Support Pediatric Cancer Research

CURE Childhood Cancer announces its 6th Annual “A Tribute to Quiet Heroes” luncheon, to be held from 11a.m. to 2p.m. on September 25, 2010 at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead. The event, which honors mothers of children with cancer whose love and tireless dedication guide their families through an unimaginable journey, has raised more than $1 million for pediatric cancer research since its inception in 2005.

"The ‘Quiet Heroes’ luncheon is our way of honoring and providing a day of respite to the women who take care of their children with cancer so quietly and selflessly throughout the year. We love being able to treat these mothers to a special day out, all to benefit a cause we are passionate about,” said Kristin Connor, CURE’s Executive Director.

The event is hosted each year by Chris Glavine, wife of former Major League Baseball player Tom Glavine, who helped launch the inaugural event five years ago. Emmy-award winning news anchor Jill Becker of 11 Alive, herself the mother of a childhood cancer survivor, will emcee, and the featured speaker will be Nancy Keene, author and co-author of several books for families of children with cancer, including Childhood Leukemia and Childhood Cancer.

The event will also include a silent auction with items such as an autographed Justin Bieber guitar, an opportunity for one lucky Little League team to receive coaching from Tom Glavine at his home and play baseball on the infield in his Country Club of the South backyard, dinner with Chris and Tom Glavine, a Macbook Pro and 2011 Masters’ Tournament final round badges available for bidding. Tickets are $125 and can be purchased online at www.quietheroes.org.

Founded in 1975, Atlanta, Georgia-based CURE Childhood Cancer has raised millions of dollars for research and ongoing education of pediatric cancer and is focused on supporting childhood cancer experts, locally and nationally, who work daily to discover a cure for pediatric cancer. CURE Childhood Cancer currently funds two pediatric oncology Fellows at the Emory University School of Medicine. CURE Childhood Cancer also offers programs that address the critical/urgent needs of patients and their families. For more information go to www.curechildhoodcancer.org or contact Ms. Kristin Connor, Executive Director, at 770-986-0035.
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Tuesday, September 01, 2009

Aflac Announces Support for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac today announced its support for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month by kicking off a new integrated fundraising campaign to benefit the Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Childhood cancer is the number one cause of death by disease for children under the age of 15. Through improved research and treatments, childhood cancer survival rates have improved from less than 20% in the 1980's to over 80% today. Aflac makes pediatric cancer its primary philanthropic cause.

The campaign includes a new component enabling people to donate to the Aflac Cancer Center (ACC) through the Aflac Cancer Center causes page which can be accessed on Facebook.com or at www.aflac.com/aflaccancercenter. Aflac will contribute one dollar for anyone who joins the ACC causes page and will match donations up to $1 million.

To kick off the campaign Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos today announced that he will make a personal donation of $100,000 and challenged others to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer.

"The heroic doctors and nurses at the Aflac Cancer Center work hard to improve the lives of children while delivering much-needed hope to families," Amos said. "That's why Aflac, our sales agents and our employees continue to embrace this great cause. We are proud to match donations and encourage everyone to show their support for children and families dealing with cancer."

The month-long campaign also includes a text to donate program which opens on September 1, and targets NASCAR fans. It will be highlighted on September 6th as NASCAR star Carl Edwards drives his No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion at the nationally televised race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The car's paint scheme, designed by a 13-year-old patient at the Aflac Cancer Center, signifies a special tribute to the Aflac Cancer Center and all children fighting childhood cancer. The company will sustain the fundraising drive throughout the month of September.

"Cancer is the leading medical cause of death in children, and saving such lives leads to more total years saved than for any adult cancer except breast cancer," Dr. William G. Woods, director of the Aflac Cancer Center said. "We have a unique ability to make an investment in children's lives and longevity and we thank Aflac and Carl Edwards for helping us achieve our goals."

Each year the Aflac Cancer Center treats more than 350 new cancer patients. It also provides the largest sickle cell disease program in America, with 1,635 active cases and has cured more children of sickle cell disease than any treatment center in the nation. In addition to funding research and treatment, Aflac contributions serve other critical needs, including new facilities, a new state-of-the-art pediatric research building, and endowments for the Family Support Team and Fellowship Program. In August, the Aflac Cancer Center announced that Aflac had surpassed $50 million in donations to this cause.

Components of the plan for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month include the following:

-- Causes Page (Facebook)

Aflac will donate $1 for anyone who joins the Aflac Cancer Center causes page, an application on Facebook. The company will also match donations up to $1 million and Aflac CEO Dan Amos will initiate donations with a personal contribution of $100,000.

-- Color Carl's Car Contest

Patients at the Aflac Cancer Center were asked to color Carl Edwards' car for the nationally televised race on September 6, at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. Carl and the car's designer, Jody Lawrence, a 13-year-old cancer patient, will unveil the car on Friday, September 4, at the Aflac Cancer Center.

-- Text to Donate Program

Throughout September, NASCAR fans are encouraged to text the phrase "GOCARL" to 90999 to make a $5 donation to the Aflac Cancer Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. All donations will appear on the contributor's next cellular phone bill.

-- Sale of Die Cast Replica Cars

Motorsports Authentics will donate 5 percent of proceeds from the sale of the No. 99 Aflac Ford Fusion die cast to the Aflac Cancer Center.

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