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Schwarzenegger Announces More Than 1 Million Participate in Fitness Challenge The Coca-Cola Company Rewards Record-Breaking Achievement by Funding Eight New Fitness Centers in California Schools
"In California, we are showing the nation and the world that we are committed to fighting obesity, being fit and living healthy. This is why I issued a challenge earlier this year, when I hosted an Obesity Summit with President Clinton, to expand my Fitness Challenge to 1 million participants - more than any other state," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "I am proud to announce today that our students rose to that challenge with the help of our school administrators, teachers, parents and my dedicated Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Chairman Jake Steinfeld, we have reached well over our goal of 1 million. And, I am excited to join with our great partners at Coca-Cola, who have announced they will reward this record-breaking achievement with eight new fitness centers at our schools at no cost to the state." Today's record-breaking announcement took place at Kentwood Elementary School in Los Angeles, where the school's students have recorded 57,000 days of physical activity so far in this year's Challenge, more than any other school in the Los Angeles Unified School District. After joining the Governor's Fitness Challenge, Kentwood Elementary saw their academic performance index (API) rise by more than 5 percent, making the school first in its neighborhood. And, the percentage of Kentwood students that scored in the "Healthy Fitness Zone" on all six categories in the California Physical Fitness Test jumped from 49 percent to 63 percent. "I want to thank Governor Schwarzenegger and all of our sponsors and partners for helping us to reach our goal of getting a million people to sign up for our Challenge in California," said Jake Steinfeld, chairman of California's Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, who also noted being physically active not only helps build healthy bodies; it builds confidence, focus and self-esteem, and has a direct impact on academic success. "Together, we've been able to provide resources and tools along with the needed encouragement to hundreds of California schools and, now over a million students, to achieve greater physical activity. And, today's announcement from our friends at Coca-Cola will enable us to provide eight additional schools the tools they need to promote student fitness for years and years to come." As a reward for California leading the way in helping to combat the childhood obesity epidemic nationally, the Coca-Cola Company also announced today that it will fund eight brand new "Live Positively" Fitness Centers, valued at more than $100,000 each, at eight California schools that exhibit exceptional efforts in rising to the Governor's Fitness Challenge. "Coca-Cola is proud to support the Governor's Challenge and help generate excitement about physical fitness through this community-focused effort," said Sandy Douglas, president of Coca-Cola North America. "As a part of Coca-Cola's ongoing commitment to be a part of the solution, our contribution of eight 'Live Positively' physical fitness centers will encourage California's schoolchildren to live healthy and active lives." The schools awarded a "Live Positively" Fitness Center will be chosen based on the activity their students, parents and teachers record in the 2010 Governor's Fitness Challenge, as well as by location. Only schools in areas boasting the most participation are eligible to compete for the awards, thus, the Los Angeles Unified School District, which has more students signed up for the Challenge than any other district or county in the state, will be awarded two "Live Positively" Fitness Centers. Fresno, Orange, Stanislaus and San Bernardino counties, and the Sacramento City Unified School District and Coachella Valley area will each have one school receive a "Live Positively" Fitness Center. The 2010 Challenge runs through May 31st and school recipients of the eight "Live Positively" Fitness Centers will be announced in September. Earlier this year, the Governor joined President Clinton in convening the Governor's 2010 Summit on Health, Nutrition and Obesity: Actions for Healthy Living. At the Summit, the Governor announced eight specific actions his Administration will pursue to fight childhood obesity and encourage all Californians to live a healthy, active lifestyle. The specific actions include promoting healthy beverages in our schools, increasing physical activity including expanding the Governor's Fitness Challenge to 1 million participants and incorporating the idea of "health in all policies." Recognizing the importance of physical activity in schools, Governor Schwarzenegger instituted the Fitness Challenge Competition in 2006, encouraging participants to be active 30 to 60 minutes a day at least three days a week for a month. In its first year, the challenge attracted 10,000 students and has continued to grow with more than 330,000 students participating last year to now over 1 million participants this year. The program is free for schools and, thanks to corporate and foundation support, more than $400,000 worth of physical activity equipment is awarded to winning schools every year. All accredited K-12 schools statewide are eligible to compete in the Governor's Challenge which also includes other awards, presented annually by General Mills. These awards include three grand prize $100,000 fitness centers, sponsored by the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, to the winning elementary school, middle school and high school and eleven $6,000 regional awards, sponsored by CVS/pharmacy. For more information on the Governor's Fitness Challenge please visit www.CalGovCouncil.org. |
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