Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge grant allow schools to target whole-body wellness in support of physical and emotional health
New Fairfield, CT— The American Heart Association’s school-based youth programs, Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™, awarded $1,772.10 to Consolidated School in New Fairfield for fitness equipment. The annual grant program supports schools by funding resources to extend school wellness programs.
The American Heart Association, a global force for healthier lives for all, is helping educators make whole-body wellness a priority by bringing more resources to school campuses. Grant recipients are now able to expand their schools’ wellness offerings with additions such as physical activity equipment, water bottle filling stations and educator training opportunities on their campuses to encourage their students to stay healthy and active. The application process was open to all schools who participated in the school-based programs in the 2021-2022 school year.
“We are so happy to provide funding for trampoline fitness equipment to Consolidated School,” said Kim Fazio, Connecticut youth market director. “Consolidated has been part of the Kids Heart Challenge since 2007, supported by the families and community members raising $175,000 to keep kids healthy and fund important research and science to fight heart disease and stroke. The PE teacher, Jamie Riehl has been an outstanding volunteer for 12 years and he goes above and beyond for his school. His enthusiasm and dedication to his students can be seen the minute you enter his gymnasium.”
With deep roots in physical activity, Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge have expanded beyond the gym to meet the needs of today’s youth and educators as science has proven the strong connection between physical and mental health. Kids Heart Challenge offers a variety of physical activities to get elementary students’ hearts pumping such as dance, basketball or jumping rope paired with digital mission to learn life-saving skills such as Hands-Only CPR™. The American Heart Challenge is a service-learning program for middle and high school students. The program also helps boost heart health and self-esteem, while reducing stress and anxiety through programs featuring yoga, dance and obstacle courses.
Only 20% of kids get the physical activity they need.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, only 20% of kids get enough activity to meet physical activity recommendations. Both the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge are rooted in proven science, which has shown that kids who are regularly active have a better chance of a healthy adulthood.
Funds raised by Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge participants support the American Heart Association’s scientific research and outreach programs, paving the way for improved health outcomes for healthier communities. Schools are encouraged to register now for the 2022-2023 school year. The program provides grant funding twice a year, mid-school year and year end, to provide resources in real time to students. Since the grant program began in 2019, over a million dollars has been granted to schools to support projects that make schools healthier.
To learn more about the American Heart Association’s kids initiatives, or to make a donation, please visit www.heart.org/kids.