CHICAGO, Aug. 30, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Action for Healthy Kids ® (AFHK) announces the 295 recipients of School Grants for Healthy Kids for the 2016-2017 school year, provided through funding from CSX. Awarded in 13 states, the Game On grants aim to expand student access to in-school physical activity and healthy foods, improve knowledge and behaviors around exercise and nutrition, and engage parents in activities that reinforce healthy habits at home. Since 2013, CSX-supported School Grants for Healthy Kids have helped 1,074 schools implement health and wellness initiatives, impacting more than 546,000 students.
The grants, which range from $500 to $2,500, can be used for a variety of wellness purposes including:
- Physical activity components, such as funding for physical education, active indoor and outdoor recess, classroom energizers, walking and running clubs, and before- and after-school programs; and
- Nutrition components, such as education, school gardens, taste tests, and healthy classroom parties and celebrations that introduce students to the value of an active, healthy lifestyle.
“As a transportation services provider, CSX understands the importance of creating connections, and we want to help kids connect with activities that help them develop healthy habits for their entire lives,” said Tori Kaplan, assistant vice president, corporate social responsibility, CSX. “Through our ongoing partnership with AFHK, we are seeing sustainable, impactful changes being made in schools, and we’re excited to continue this great momentum in the coming school year.”
Additionally, 480 school health teams will be trained on how to build and maintain sustainable wellness teams, augment school health and wellness best practices, and use AFHK resources and programs to implement wellness policies. AFHK also provides technical assistance to help the 295 grantee schools successfully implement their grants.
Together, CSX and AFHK are also planning five service days this fall at which CSX employees will volunteer with AFHK and other CSX partner organizations, including City Year and the Arbor Day Foundation. At five of the awarded schools, volunteers will refurbish and beautify play spaces, brighten cafeterias with murals to inspire healthy habits, plant school gardens, and much more.
“The funding from CSX connects schools with much-needed resources for their wellness initiatives and acknowledges the impact of physical activity and good nutrition on children’s health and learning,” said Rob Bisceglie, CEO, Action for Healthy Kids. “Partners like CSX are not only helping us to make positive changes at the local level through school grants, but also to drive a greater national focus on the importance of health and nutrition in schools.”
For a complete list of schools funded by CSX, visit www.actionforhealthykids.org/CSX .
To learn more about CSX’s support of programs related to wellness, safety, community and the environment, visit www.beyondourrails.org .
About Action for Healthy Kids® Action for Healthy Kids® is a nationwide grassroots network mobilizing school professionals, families and communities to take actions that improve school foods, nutrition education, physical activity and physical education for all students. Through funding opportunities, expert technical assistance, and our flagship program, Game On, Action for Healthy Kids supports schools in developing healthy environments where children thrive. To learn more about the ways our 100,000+ volunteer network is helping to make every kid healthy, active and ready to learn, visit us at www.ActionforHealthyKids.org , on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/act4healthykids ) and on Twitter ( https://twitter.com/Act4HlthyKids ).
About CSX CSX, based in Jacksonville, Florida, is a premier transportation company. It provides rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services and solutions to customers across a broad array of markets, including energy, industrial, construction, agricultural, and consumer products. For nearly 190 years, CSX has played a critical role in the nation’s economic expansion and industrial development. Its network connects every major metropolitan area in the eastern United States, where nearly two-thirds of the nation’s population resides. It also links more than 240 short-line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports with major population centers and farming towns alike. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com . Like us on Facebook ( http://facebook.com/OfficialCSX ) and follow us on Twitter ( http://twitter.com/CSX ).
Contacts: Loren Coleman Action for Healthy Kids (312) 878-7672 lcoleman@ActionforHealthyKids.org Kaitlyn Barrett CSX (904) 359-1037 kaitlyn_barrett@csx.com
