Highlights-in-Review
Project Fit America (PFA) celebrates our 18-year anniversary in 2008 and
we bring with us phenomenal growth and success! Collectively sponsorship
contributions have topped $7,500,000.00 and PFA has now been implemented
in nearly 600 school systems, in over 250 cities in 40 states.
PFA works! The testing data from the schools show excellent improvements.
Our sponsors are reaping the rewards for their leadership of bringing PFA
to their communities. This is evidenced by the high rate of sponsors
that are expanding the program and reinstating sponsorship. For example,
HEARTLAND FOUNDATION in St. Joseph, MO is entering into their 10th year
of donating to this project and have over 35 schools sponsored. In North
Carolina, the GUILFORD COUNTY SCHOOLS and MOSES CONE~WESLEY LONG COMMUNITY
HEALTH FOUNDATION will complete a 11 year project to bring PFA to all
68 elementary schools in the county!
The San Francisco Art Institute selected PFA for a pro bono project to develop print ads for Public Service Announcements. The campaign was a huge success and the ad was run in the following magazines: Oprah's "O" People, National Geographic, Adventure, Biography, Fortune, Martha Stewart Living, Ladies Home Journal and Psychology Today! Our web site has jumped to over 30,000 visitors a month and subsequently we are welcoming new businesses and industries to our family of contributors.
For example, SunTrust Banks donated $1,000 for every touch down score during the regular season by the Atlanta Falcons, raising over $43,000. The Atlanta Falcons Youth Foundation has provided matching grants to help expand our work in Clayton and Coweta Counties working with SOUTHERN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER and NEWNAN HOSPITAL. On the West Coast Clif Bar, Inc., (Makers of those wonderfully delicious nutrition bars; Clif Bar, Luna, Mojo and now Z-Bar for kids!) developed pilot programming in Alameda County, home of their corporate headquarters. Also on the West Coast, we welcomed the continued sponsorship of this initiative with Sutter Health as a sponsor for Sacramento and Placer Counties. To date over 30 schools have received this program because of their support. Their project kick off featured California State Superintendent Jack O’Connell as a guest speaker!
On the East Coast Sport & Health Clubs raised funds for 7 schools in the metropolitan Washington D. C. Area. This is their flagship corporatedquo giving campaign and fund raising events such as "Torture Your Trainer"; have been a big hit raising money for PFA schools!
We also partner with many hospitals and foundations to bring new revenue to schools and communities. For example, starting in 2006 and continuing though 2009 we are collaborating on a state wide pilot program in Mississippi working with Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation. Projects in the north and south region, as well are Gulf Coast regions of the state are in development.
Also in the South, Baptist Health in Little Rock, Arkansas joined forces with Bank of America to implement programming and in Alabama, the Junior League of Birmingham teamed with Children’s Hospital to launch a five-year initiative to bring PFA to their schools.
Other grant partners include but are not limited to:
- Centers for Disease Control-Clayton County Board of Health-Georgia
- Wellmont Foundation-Bristol-Tennessee
- Chelsea Community Foundation-Michigan
- VHA Foundation & Cardinal Health Foundation
- Mary Black Foundation-Spartanburg, SC
- Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Nebraska
The new PFA Core Curriculum and indoor fitness component has been a huge
success! The direct result of five years of field testing and
working
hands on with PFA schools around the country. We adapted our existing
program to work with the ever-changing school environment, shrinking budgets
for Physical Education and cut backs in class time and frequency. Our
programming has evolved far beyond physical education. The fabulous
indoor component and mobile fitness supplies have schools calling for more! Across
the country they are finding our fun, turnkey programming to be exactly
what they need to create and provide more quality opportunities for children
to be active, fit and healthy.
ATTENTION PE Teachers: You will be able to find Project Fit America in the February 2008 Teacher Tool Kit from N.A.S.P.E. (the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.)
Our launches and media events celebrating new PFA schools around the country enjoyed high spirited fun with special appearances from sport mascots such as: Sir Purr-Carolina Panthers, Freddie the Falcon-Atlanta Falcons, Benny the Bull-Chicago Bulls, Slamson-Sacramento Kings, Slider-Cleveland Browns, Gapper-Cincinnatti Reds, Blitz-Seattle Seahawk’s, Dinger the Cat-Sacramento River Cats, Maddie-New York Liberty, Lil Red-University of Nebraska and Wild Wing-Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.
In summary, our work allows us to educate and motivate communities toward healthier lifestyles. We are a hands-on and grassroots organization that is a true partner to the schools.Together we are changing the culture of fitness in education.
As we have said from the beginning, "If you build it, they will come."