Awards


 * Nineteen MISD Campuses to be Honored in Washington, D.C. for Fighting Childhood Obesity **


 * McKinney, Texas - ** The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, will recognize 19 McKinney ISD elementary schools for transforming their campuses into healthier places for students and staff.

Each of these 19 campuses has earned a Bronze Recognition award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, and a representative from each school will travel to Washington, D.C.—courtesy of the Alliance—to receive the award at a conference to be held Sept. 12–14. Former President Bill Clinton is scheduled to deliver the keynote address.

Bennett Elementary Caldwell Elementary Eddins Elementary Finch Elementary Glen Oaks Elementary Johnson Elementary Malvern Elementary McClure Elementary McGowen Elementary McNeil Elementary Minshew Elementary Press Elementary Slaughter Elementary Valley Creek Elementary Vega Elementary Walker Elementary Webb Elementary Wilmeth Elementary Wolford Elementary

To earn the National Recognition Award, these schools improved their nutrition services and physical activity programs to meet or exceed stringent standards set by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program. The Healthy Schools Program provides professional development to schools such as onsite and virtual trainings with school health experts, access to a customer support center, science-based resources, and success stories—at no cost—to more than 23,000 schools nationwide to help them reverse the childhood obesity epidemic. Schools are eligible for Bronze, Silver or Gold National Recognition Awards based on their level of achievement. “McKinney ISD elementary campuses are so excited to receive national recognition this year,” said Julie Blankenship, McKinney ISD Director of Health Services. “McKinney ISD is leading the way in coordinated health and The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has helped us create a healthier and happier environment for students and staff alike. We are proud of the great results we’ve had so far.”

“We applaud the achievements of our 2014 honorees,” said Howell Wechsler, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for a Healthier Generation. “Their successful efforts to get students and staff eating better and moving more prove that schools are great environments to promote both health and academics.”

To further strengthen the Healthy Schools Program, the Alliance brokers and implements voluntary agreements with industry leaders to provide schools better access to healthier foods, beverages, and physical activity. As a result of these agreements, more than 30 million students across the country have access to healthier school meals – including at least 14 million students who currently participate in the free and reduced lunch program. Additionally, the Alliance’s landmark agreement with the American Beverage Association has contributed to a 90 percent reduction in calories from beverages shipped to schools between the 2004-2010 school years.

The Healthy Schools Program is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. To become a healthier place for students to learn and staff to work, any school in the United States can enroll and receive assistance and support, at no cost. Find out more at [|HealthierGeneration.org].

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, works to reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity and to empower kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits. The Alliance works with schools, companies, community organizations, healthcare professionals and families to transform the conditions and systems that lead to healthier children. To learn more and join the movement, visit [|www.HealthierGeneration.org]. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, measureable and timely change. For 40 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit [|www.rwjf.org].
 * About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation **
 * About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation **

// Source: Alliance for a Healthier Generation. //