The Alliance for a Healthier Generation Honors More Than 250 School, Business, and Community Leaders

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Sept. 9, 2014 – As the latest phase of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) strong school nutrition standards take effect, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation will honor 250 schools, a leading community organization, and a corporation for becoming healthier places. Each will be awarded a National Healthy Schools Award or Healthier Generation Hero Award at the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Leaders Summit, September 12 – 13, in Washington, D.C.

The weekend-long celebration will kick off Friday evening with a welcome reception at which President Bill Clinton will address the 250+ awardees for their efforts in the fight against childhood obesity through practices and policies that aim to improve health and wellness and to increase physical activity. On Saturday morning, Charles E. Milam, Principal Director for Military Community and Family Policy, U.S. Department of Defense, will be a featured speaker. His remarks will be followed by NBC’s TODAY Show Nutritionist Joy Bauer, who will moderate a panel discussion about success stories in our communities, followed by a fitness event. The weekend will conclude with a Saturday evening program, emceed by Master of Ceremonies and veteran Sports Journalist Bonnie Bernstein and featuring Kevin Concannon, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The 250 recognized schools, 64 percent of which are high-need (40 percent or more of the student population is eligible for free and reduced price lunches), come from 30 states. Each recognized school meets or exceeds stringent standards set by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for healthy eating and physical activity programs and policies. Schools are eligible for National Healthy Schools Awards at the Bronze, Silver, or Gold level based on the success they achieve.

Friday, September 12, 2014
5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. EDT
WELCOME RECEPTION
Call Time: 5:00 p.m. EDT
Final Access: 5:45 p.m. EDT
Who: President Bill Clinton, 250 staff members from award-winning schools across the country, community and business leaders
Where: Washington Hilton, International Ballroom, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

Saturday, September 13, 2014
9:15 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. EDT
OPENING SESSION & SCHOOL RECOGNITION CEREMONY
Call Time: 9:00 a.m. EDT
Final Access: 9:15 a.m. EDT
Who: Charles E. Milam, Principal Director for Military Community and Family Policy, U.S. Department of Defense; 250 staff members from award-winning schools across the country
Where: Washington Hilton, International Ballroom, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

11:15 a.m. – 12:35 p.m. EDT
PANEL DISCUSSION
Call Time: 10:45 a.m. EDT
Final Access: 11:05 a.m. EDT
Who: Joy Bauer, Nutritionist, NBC’s TODAY Show; Kaseir Archie, Youth Ambassador, Alliance for Healthier Generation; Angela Moskow, Vice President, Sanofi US; Jean McTavish, Principal, Edward A. Reynolds West Side High School (New York, NY)
Where: Washington Hilton, International Ballroom, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

 
1:25 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. EDT
FITNESS EVENT
Call Time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
Final Access: 2:30 p.m. EDT
Who: 24-Hour Fitness, NutriBullet, Technogym, BOKS, Brita, Boosterthon, staff members from award-winning schools across the country
Where: Washington Hilton, Heights Terrace, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. EDT
ANNUAL AWARDS CEREMONY & DINNER
Call Time: 5:45 p.m. EDT
Final Access: 6:30 p.m. EDT
Who: Dr. Elliott Antman, President, American Heart Association; Dr. John Lumpkin, Senior Vice President and Director, Targeted Teams, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation; Kevin Concannon, Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, U.S. Department of Agriculture; emceed by Master of Ceremonies Bonnie Bernstein, veteran Sports Journalist
Where: Washington Hilton, International Ballroom, 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20009

The Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program, an evidence-based, national initiative grounded in a six-step process, guides schools to create, implement, and sustain healthy environments. Through its Healthy Schools Program, the Alliance builds healthier school environments for nearly 15 million students by improving physical education, health education, child nutrition, and staff wellness policies and programs in more than 25,000 schools. The Healthy Schools Program is funded primarily by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF).

In addition to RWJF, the following organizations are providing support for the 2014 Leaders Summit: Sanofi, NutriBullet, Technogym, Brita, BOKS, SPARK, GoNoodle, GOPHER, The Cooper Institute, Healthy Highway, and Boosterthon.

Please RSVP to Megan McIntyre, 917-399-5250, Megan.McIntyre@HealthierGeneration.org.

###

Contact:
Megan McIntyre, Alliance for a Healthier Generation
917-399-5250, Megan.McIntyre@HealthierGeneration.org