[September 06, 2013] |
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BOKS Ambassador Shaquille O'Neal Announces an Incentive Program to Bring Physical Activity to Schools
CANTON, Mass. --(Business Wire)--
Today, BOKS ambassador Shaquille O'Neal along with First Lady, Michelle
Obama, announce the BOKS Activation Grant -- an incentive offered to
public and private elementary schools across the country. BOKS, an
initiative of Reebok and the Reebok Foundation, is a free before-school
physical activity program for kids. By visiting BOKSKids.org,
anyone interested in implementing the program can apply to receive
$1,000 to use, as they see fit to support BOKS in their school
(suggested uses found within the application on BOKSKIDS.org).
"Right now, we're truly at a pivotal moment - a tipping point when the
message is just starting to break through, when new habits are just
beginning to take hold, and we're seeing the very first glimmer of the
kind of transformational change that we're capable of making in this
country," Mrs. Obama told the audience at Orr Elementary School. "And if
we keep pushing forward, we have the potential to transform the health
of an entire generation of young people."
Started by a group of Massachusetts moms in 2009, BOKS has experienced
tremendous growth and acceptance by leaders in the physical activity
space. The success of BOKS can be attributed to it being a free program,
which is easy to implement, and all the necessary information is readily
available on BOKSKids.org.
With the overarching goal of bringing BOKS to as many kids as possible,
BOKS developed the activation grant to provide schools that do not
currently run the program with a meaningful incentive to get the program
started.
"Physical activity has always been a part of my life and in turn my
children's lives, but that's not the case for everyone," says Shaquille
O'Neal. "Too many kids are not getting enough physical activity on a
day-to-day basis and we need to get involved. BOKS gives kids that
opportunity and it makes me proud to be an ambassador for the
organization."
"One of the biggest benefits of BOKS is that it creates a healthier
whole child affecting them physically, mentally and socially, and takes
just one parent, teacher, or volunteer to step up and bring the program
to their school," says Kathleen Tullie, Co-Founder and Executive
Director of the BOKS program. "Having Shaquille O'Neal on board and the
support of the First Lady to announce the BOKS Activation Grant is such
a huge moment for us. We want to reward schools who make an effort to
bring BOKS to their school, ultimately benefiting our community as a
whole."
With the assistance of ChildObesity180's Active Schools Acceleration
Grant program, and collaboration from other nationally recognized
organizations including The Partnership for a Healthier America and the
Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the BOKS program is expected to
grow to more than 600 schools by year end, and 1,000 by 2015.
Enrollment for the BOKS Activation Grant is now open and will run
through December 2013. Entries will be reviewed on a first come, first
serve basis. For more information on BOKS and to enter your school in
the BOKS Activation Grant please visit www.BOKSkids.org.
To learn more about Let's Move! Active Schools please go to www.letsmoveschools.org.
About BOKS (Build Our Kids' Success)
BOKS, Build Our Kids' Success, is a before school physical activity
program backed by Reebok and the Reebok Foundation. Founded on the
principle Active Kids = Active Minds, BOKS was created by a group of
moms after reading Dr. John Ratey's book Spark, which states that
"exercise is the single most powerful tool that we have to optimize the
function of our brains." The goal of the BOKS program is to enhance
academic performance and the overall health of kids through physical
activity. The uniqueness of the program is that it takes place before
school begins and studies have shown that exercise before school is the
key to improving classroom performance and behavior. The program, run by
moms, dads, P.E. teachers and all other types of volunteers in local
communities, is simple to implement. BOKS is currently in close to 400
schools around the world. To bring BOKS to your community, please visit
BOKSKids.org for more information.

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