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YMCA Press Release
Home » General Information » YMCA Press Release
For Release: 5/23/2007
Contact: Sharon Bredehoft, Downtown YMCA Executive Director, (402) 434-9236
Summer Play Every Day Teaches Kids Healthy Lifestyle Habits
(Lincoln, Nebraska) May 23, 2007 - The Lincoln YMCA has taken a lead role in the Summer Play Every Day scorecard program for grade school age children (K-6) this summer. The program's goal is to help kids learn and develop healthy, active and nutritious lifestyles. This recognized Weigh Cool® program of the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation, the Lincoln YMCA's Activate America initiative and Action for Healthy Kids will run from June 1 to August 31. Major funding for the Weigh Cool program was provided by the Community Health Endowment.
The first Nebraska Astronaut, Clayton Anderson, who encourages kids to participate in this program said: "Maintaining a healthy body weight is one of the most important things to teach our children today. Part of this is just providing kids the opportunity to play and be physically active while emphasizing healthy food choices. Summer Play Every Day encourages kids and their families to engage in fun and healthy activities every day."
Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning is a supporter of the program. "Our children are facing the pressures of underage drinking, violence, and drugs like meth every day," Bruning said. "Programs like YMCA Summer Play Every Day provide healthier choices for children and peace of mind for parents."
Summer Play Every Day is an incentive-based program that allows individuals to earn points by doing healthy activities. Participants who earn enough points will become eligible for prizes and a statewide drawing at the end of the summer.
The program divides each week into seven healthy behavior days. Children have a list of activities to choose from and can earn a point for each daily activity they complete. Information for families is included on fitness, nutrition, muscle anatomy and healthy lifestyle tips. A bonus point system promotes activities for children such as limiting the number of hours spent watching television, reducing sugar intake, going to bed 30 minutes earlier, reading a book and helping parents with a household project.
"The Summer Play Every Day scorecard is the perfect incentive for children to continue to be active during the summer months. With caring mentors such as coaches, youth group leaders and parents supporting the FUN activities within the scorecard, a healthy lifestyle can be achieved and continued," said Barbara Bettin, President and CEO at the Lincoln YMCA.
"Above all, the program encourages fun, family interactive activities to help the children develop good lifestyle habits that can be used throughout a child's life. This is one of many action steps needed to fight childhood obesity," said Jennifer Skala, Weigh Cool Program Director at the Nebraska Children
and Families Foundation.
Parents, caregivers and organizations can contact Sharon Bredehoft at the Lincoln YMCA to find out how to get involved in Summer Play Every Day. Contact Sharon at 402-434-9236 or by email. Participating organizations and programs in Lincoln include YMCA and Parks and Recreation summer youth programs, YMCA Youth Sports, Neighborhood Recreation & Family Centers, and Community Learning Centers with summer K-6 grade programs.
Summer Play Every Day is the first recognized Weigh Cool activity. For more information and to view the scorecard, visit ymcalincoln.org.
About Weigh Cool:
Weigh Cool® is an initiative of the Nebraska Children and Families Foundation to help children and families reverse the trend of childhood obesity and type II diabetes through supportive relationships, good nutrition and regular exercise. The statewide initiative works with state and community-based partners to provide children and families with simple ways to incorporate healthy nutrition and physical activity into their everyday routine.
About Activate America:
YMCA Activate America® is the YMCA's national initiative that is rallying YMCAs across the country to further assist kids, adults and families who want to lead a healthy lifestyle, but struggle to do so. In addition to supporting this population called health seekers, YMCAs are making a commitment to their community to promote healthy living and are collaborating with other community partners to magnify
their impact.
Activate America YMCAs are committed to the following:
- Supporting those who want to lead a healthy lifestyle, but struggle to do so.
- Being an integral part of our community's efforts to make long-lasting changes that support
healthy living.
- Collaboration through partnerships with public, private and other nonprofit organizations.
About Action for Healthy Kids:
Nebraska Action for Healthy Kids, affiliated with national Action for Healthy Kids (www.actionforhealthykids.org), is the only nonprofit organization in Nebraska formed specifically to address the epidemic of overweight, sedentary, and undernourished youth by focusing on changes in the school environment to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. We are a public-private partnership of more than 30 organizations and government agencies representing education, health, fitness and nutrition, throughout the state of Nebraska.