President Bill Clinton Announces a new Fitness Collaboration to Fight Childhood Obesity including BOKS, Zumba Fitness, and Celebrity Fitness Experts

(LITTLE ROCK, ARK.) October 21, 2012— In an effort to expand the way physical activity is delivered to millions of children and youth across the country, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation has announced a national fitness campaign to get kids moving with BOKS, an initiative of Reebok, celebrity trainers Bob Harper, Tara Stiles, Billy Blanks and global fitness brand Zumba® Fitness.

The Fit for a Healthier Generation campaign features pre-recorded, 3-5 minute physical activity breaks aimed at getting kids up, moving and having fun throughout the day. The fitness breaks DVDs were produced by Watch It Now Entertainment a leader in fitness production. The fitness program BOKS, an initiative of the Reebok Foundation, will sponsor the distribution of the more than 30,000 DVDs to communities all across the country.

President Bill Clinton will make the announcement at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program Forum in Little Rock, Arkansas. The event recognizes the healthiest schools in the United States and this year will award 251 schools with national recognition.  Bob Harper, Tara Stiles, Billy Blanks and Zumba Education Specialist Kass Martin will debut Fit for a Healthier Generation physical activity breaks with live demonstrations for more than 350 education professionals from across the country.

“Less than 4 percent of elementary schools, 8 percent of middle schools, and 2 percent of high schools provide opportunities for daily physical education,” said President Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation and co-founder of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. “By bringing together some of the leading experts on physical activity in the country, we can show the benefits of living fit and help kids lead healthier lives.”
With these specially created 3-5 minute physical activity breaks, anyone will be able to get kids up and active during their day. The Fit for Healthier Generation physical activity breaks feature simple, classroom and program-appropriate movements to get kids’ heart rates up and have fun.

The Fit for a Healthier Generation campaign will also feature a donation drive, encouraging Americans to donate $10 to support kids across America being more physically active. Each of the celebrity fitness experts will engage their own fan base to take part in the campaign to also support the work of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.

Schools can access the fitness breaks by joining the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program online at www.HealthierGeneration.org. There is no cost to join the Healthy Schools Program, and members have access to hundreds of resources, including a variety of no-cost technical tools.

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About the Alliance for a Healthier GenerationThe Alliance for a Healthier Generation works to address one of the nation’s leading public health threats – childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015, and to empower kids to make healthy lifestyle choices. Founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, the Alliance works to positively affect the places that can make a difference to a child’s health: homes, schools, doctor’s offices and communities. To learn more about the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, visit www.HealthierGeneration.org 

Contact:

Alliance for a Healthier Generation 
Megan McIntyre    
917-399-5250
megan.mcintyre@HealthierGeneration.org