After Eight Cities in Two Years, Program Reaching Young Children Plans To Expand to 12 Cities in Upcoming Year
Alexandria, VA (14 November, 2006) – The first-of-its-kind initiative to get kids physically active starting at a young age, NikeGO Head Start -- a partnership between Nike and the National Head Start Association (NHSA) along with SPARK (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids) -- is scoring big points: In its first two years, NikeGO Head Start trained 320 teachers in eight cities reaching a estimated 30,000 Head Start preschoolers.
Now, NikeGO Head Start is expanding to another 12 cities. The program currently operates in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, DC, Orlando, Anchorage, Memphis, and Portland. The additional 12 cities are being selected primarily based on the prevalence of childhood obesity among preschoolers.
The initiative builds on a seven-year relationship between Nike and the National Head Start Association. Currently the largest private funder of NHSA, Nike is issuing a series of one-year grants, with specific performance requirements, totaling $2.5 million over five years.
“As childhood obesity continues to rise, we are compelled to continue to provide opportunities like the NikeGO Head Start partnership to enhance children's love for physical activity, especially at an early age,” said Craig Cheek, Vice President & General Manager of the US Region, Nike. “By increasing the number of cities that offer the NikeGO Head Start program, we can increase the number of children, parents and families who make physical activity a regular part of their lives and help prevent sedentary lifestyles before they ever take hold.”
NHSA President and CEO Sarah Greene said: “Childhood obesity has been a growing problem in our country over the past few years. The best time to reach these children and their parents is when they are young so they can learn the importance of physical activity so it will become part of their lifestyle as they grow. Head Start always has been focused on the entire family, not just the kids, as an important component of their education and development. The NikeGo Head Start Initiative teaches parents along with their kids so physical activity becomes a family thing.”
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. Head Start instructors receive a “playbook” of activities that are fun, inclusive, developmentally appropriate and aligned with Head Start Child Outcomes. Parents and children learn how ordinary objects like socks and scarves can be used for movement and physical activity.
About NHSA
The National Head Start Association (http://www.nhsa.org) 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.
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 SPARKSPARK 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 for more information.