New program engages youth as leaders for health and wellness among peers
Ashburn, Va. (September 28, 2016) — The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) is proud to announce its Commit to Health Youth Ambassador Program grant recipients. The Chicago Park District, Mesa Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities in Mesa, Ariz. and the Houston Parks and Recreation Department were awarded grants totaling $50,000 in support of ongoing efforts to increase access to healthy eating and physical activity among youth. Funding for the grant program was provided by the Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT).
Nationwide, parks and recreation play a key role in helping youth make healthy decisions by not only providing healthy and nutritious foods and opportunities for physical activity, but also by teaching youth how to make healthy decisions. The Youth Ambassador Program will allow youth to learn from their peers and support the next generation of health and wellness leaders.
“Through our Commit to Health work, we are dedicated to providing park and recreation agencies with the resources they need to ensure children have access to healthy eating and physical activity during out-of-school time,” said Barbara Tulipane, NRPA President and CEO. “We are thrilled to award these three agencies with funding to support the implementation of a Youth Ambassador Program that focuses on engaging youth as health and wellness leaders in their communities and collecting best practices to be replicated across the field.”
NRPA’s Commit to Health campaign, aimed at park and recreation agencies, supports the implementation and evaluation of healthy eating and physical activity (HEPA) standards nationwide. As a result of the ongoing campaign, approximately 136,000 children now have improved access to healthy foods and increased opportunities for physical activity. That number is expected to rise as more park and recreation agencies take the Commit to Health pledge.
To learn more about Commit to Health, visit www.nrpa.org/committohealth.
To learn more about NRPA, visit www.nrpa.org.
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About The National Recreation and Park Association
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of more than 52,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.