To represent ACE in continued support of the Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit campaign and contest, ACE spokesperson, ACE Fitness Symposium speaker and renowned fitness professional, Jonathan Ross, provided a fitness consultation and helped present a $25,000 check to Orchard Grove Elementary School in Frederick, Md.
“I know I can speak for Henkel and for myself on behalf of the American Council on Exercise when I say that we’re extremely excited to award Orchard Grove Elementary this prize money because we know it’s going to be put to good use,” said Ross in his speech to students, educators, parents and local media. “I hope you all take advantage of these opportunities and continue to embrace physical activity as a way to prepare for yourself, a healthier future filled with endless possibilities.”
Henkel, the company behind some of the nation’s leading health and beauty and household goods brands, launched the Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit campaign with ACE’s assistance in August 2010 to reward and encourage physical fitness in grade school-aged children. A $25,000 grand prize in “fitness cash” was up for grabs for the grade school that best answered the question: “What Would Your School Do with $25,000 to Improve Youth Fitness?” More than 2,200 schools across the U.S. participated in the contest, with Orchard Grove ultimately earning the prize money for their inspirational and motivational video in which students explained they would use the money to build a track for their running club.
VIEW THE WINNING VIDEO!
ACE teamed with Henkel early on in the campaign through the launch of the exclusive Operation FitKids™ curriculum, designed for educators, health and fitness professionals and parents looking to integrate health and fitness into and outside of the classroom.
“Childhood obesity has become a critical concern, as have the budget issues faced by schools across the country that have negatively impacted physical-education programs,” explained ACE president and CEO Scott Goudeseune in a press statement released early in the campaign. “We continuously strive to educate parents, teachers and ACE-certified Fitness Professionals on safe and effective physical activities for children, but we also believe it’s important to support initiatives such as Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit to further motivate people and encourage them to inspire change in their communities.”