NikeGO and the National Head Start Association Launch First-of-its-Kind Physical Activity Program for Preschool Children
March 14 2005 - 10:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
NikeGO and the National Head Start Association Launch
First-of-its-Kind Physical Activity Program for Preschool Children
Gold Medal Soccer Star Mia Hamm and U.S. Surgeon General Kick off
Eight-City Pilot Aimed at Getting 30,000 Kids Moving CHICAGO, March
14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Today, Nike continues its mission of
getting kids physically active by reaching out to young children
with its latest NikeGO program -- NikeGO Head Start -- an
initiative designed for preschool children and their families at
Head Start sites throughout the country. Gold medal-winning soccer
star Mia Hamm, along with U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona,
joined with children and their parents at the Casa Central Head
Start program to launch this first-of-its-kind initiative. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990818/NIKELOGO ) In
partnership with SPARK (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for
Kids) and the National Head Start Association (NHSA), NikeGO Head
Start brings a quality early childhood physical activity program to
preschoolers in the Head Start community. With community receptions
in Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., NikeGO Head Start is
piloting 80 programs in eight different cities this year, initially
training 320 teachers to serve an estimated 30,000 Head Start
preschoolers. "Head Start is one of this nation's most successful
early childhood education programs. The goal is for NikeGO Head
Start to enhance children's love for physical activity, to involve
their families in leading physically active lives, and to help
prevent sedentary lifestyles before they ever take hold," said
Molly White, Director of U.S. Community Affairs at Nike. "The fact
that 10 percent of preschoolers are overweight tells us that we
need to do more to instill healthy choices into the lifestyles of
young children and their families." This initiative builds on a
six-year relationship between Nike and the National Head Start
Association. Nike, currently the largest private funder of NHSA,
will issue a series of one-year grants, with specific performance
requirements, totaling $2.5 million over five years. Head Start
instructors will receive a "playbook" of activities that are fun,
inclusive, developmentally appropriate and aligned with Head Start
Child Outcomes. From "Knees Up Mother Brown" to "Beanbag Boogie,"
parents and children will learn how ordinary objects like socks and
scarves can be used for movement and physical activity. "Today,
more than 10 percent of American children ages 2 to 5 are
overweight, a trend that we can and must work together to reverse.
Overweight children too often become overweight or obese adults --
with greater risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other serious
health problems. Just as with every aspect of child development, we
need to get our kids started down the right path as young as
possible," U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona said. "We must
encourage healthy eating and help every child to be physically
active for at least an hour a day. As we work with so many sectors
of society to improve the health of all children during 'The Year
of the Healthy Child,' it's encouraging to see organizations like
Nike and the National Head Start Association continue to step up
for kids." The children at the event had their very own personal
trainer in Olympic Gold medal winner Mia Hamm, the national
spokesperson for the NikeGO Head Start program, who joined SPARK
trainers in the physical activity session for children at Casa
Central Head Start. "As a young girl, soccer was my way to express
myself and experience the world around me," said Mia Hamm. "I am
proud to have the chance to pass on my love of physical activity
with a younger generation of athletes." NikeGO Head Start
understands how parents can play a critical role in raising healthy
children and provides them with the resources to replicate the
program's activities in the home. In addition to receiving the
Playbook and SPARK training, participating Head Start sites will
receive Nike donated equipment necessary to implement the program
-- including parachutes, easy-to- catch balls, beanbags and balance
beams. "While Head Start is a Federal program, much of its success
can be attributed to support from foundations, individuals and
companies like Nike," said Sarah Greene, President and CEO, NHSA.
"Since 1965, Head Start has provided education, health, nutrition
and parent involvement services to low- income children and their
families. We are very excited to introduce a new component in our
comprehensive approach to empower community members to adopt
lifelong wellness practices." NikeGO Head Start is one of several
NikeGO initiatives designed to increase the participation of young
people in physical activity as a means to improve their lives.
These range from NikeGO Afterschool programs at Boys & Girls
Clubs, YMCAs and local Parks and Recreation organizations, to
collaborations with Indian Health Service to fight diabetes among
Native American youth, to national and regional advocacy
initiatives such as Shaping America's Youth. Last year, NikeGO
programs reached over 150,000 kids in 60 U.S. cities with ongoing,
in-depth programs. NikeGO's goal is to get kids active for at least
30 minutes at a time, several times a week, making sure every child
feels successful and has fun in his or her activity. About NikeGO
NikeGO is Nike's signature U.S. community affairs initiative and
the company's long-term commitment to getting kids more physically
active. The program's mission is to increase physical activity in
youths, offering them the support and motivation to become
physically active, stay healthy and have fun. In its most recent
fiscal year, Nike contributed more than $10.5 million in cash and
products and served more than 150,000 kids through its programs and
partnerships. Visit http://www.nikego.com/ for additional
information. About SPARK SPARK (Sports, Play and Active Recreation
for Kids) is a research-based physical activity program dedicated
to creating, implementing, and evaluating programs that promote
lifelong wellness. Visit http://www.sparkpe.org/ or call
1-800SPARKPE or e-mail: for more information. About NHSA The
National Head Start Association is a private not-for-profit
membership organization dedicated exclusively to meeting the needs
of Head Start children and their families. It represents more than
1 million children, 200,000 staff and 2,600 Head Start programs in
the United States. The Association provides support for the entire
Head Start community by advocating for policies that strengthen
services to Head Start children and their families; by providing
extensive training and professional development to Head Start
staff; and by developing and disseminating research, information,
and resources that enrich Head Start program delivery.
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990818/NIKELOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Nike, Inc. CONTACT: Lee
Weinstein of Nike, Inc., +1-503-708-0402 or ; or Mark Ferguson of
NHSA, +1-703-600-1127 or Web site: http://www.nikebiz.com/
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