FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
YMCA OF THE USA RECEIVES $4 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO 'ACTIVATE AMERICA' AND PIONEER HEALTHIER U.S. COMMUNITIES
WASHINGTON, September 9, 2004 - The YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for the country's 2,575 YMCAs, received a total of $4 million in grant money from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Steps to a HealthierUS program and HHS's Education Appropriations Subcommittee to help lead the nation in reversing the current health epidemic with obesity and chronic disease. HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) Ranking Member, Senate Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations Subcommittee made separate funding announcements ($2 million each) before an audience of 140 civic and business leaders from 14 communities and regions across the country who are gathered here at the YMCA Activate America: Pioneering Healthier Communities National Conference (September 9-10).
"Partnering with the network of YMCAs throughout the country will allow us to broaden our efforts to improve the health of all Americans," Secretary Thompson said. "With YMCAs' ability to reach up to 10,000 communities and their strong foundation and vigor, we can reach more people and address the needs to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and end tobacco use."
Secretary Thompson announced that the YMCA of the USA has been selected as the national partner organization for the Steps to a HealthierUS initiative. With this honor comes $2 million in grants, distributed over four years, will be awarded in two stages. President George W. Bush's Steps to a HealthierUS initiative aims to help Americans live longer, healthier lives by reducing the burden of diabetes, overweight, obesity and asthma and by addressing three related risk factors -- physical inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco use.
"The enormity and complexity of the obesity and chronic disease problems in our country requires deliberate action to turn the tide. I am pleased that we could secure $2 million in this year's Labor-HHS Appropriations bill to support YMCA's new Activate America initiative. The YMCA has been a recognized leader in promoting wellness --giving Americans the tools and facilities they need to stay fit and healthy. Now, with the 'Activate America' initiative, the YMCA is taking its leadership to a new level by encouraging cities to develop community-wide approaches to wellness and disease prevention," said Senator Tom Harkin.
"This very important funding will enable the Y to refine community-based solutions to the current obesity challenge. We look forward to identifying replicable successes that will enable YMCAs everywhere to build upon our mission to promote healthier living for all Americans," said Kenneth Gladish, Ph.D, national executive director, YMCA of the USA.
The YMCA Activate America: Pioneering Healthier Communities Conference is part of the multi-year YMCA Activate America initiative focused on community-based solutions to combat obesity and chronic disease. Enriched by the knowledge of proven behavior modification strategies, conference attendees - - including more than 30 experts from government, philanthropic and academic circles, as well as 140 delegates representing all levels of community sectors - - return to their hometowns with a uniform commitment to develop and implement community-based solutions that will help to reverse locally what has become epidemic nationally -- the nation's physical inactivity and rise in obesity.
These delegations represent the geographic and demographic diversity of the U.S.: Dallas, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Boulder, Colorado; Tampa, Florida; Jackson, Mississippi; St. Louis, Missouri; Bellevue, Washington; State of West Virginia; Boise, Idaho; State of Delaware; Palo Alto, California; Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Rochester, New York.
About YMCA Activate America: Pioneering Healthier CommunitiesYMCA Activate America: Pioneering Healthier Communities is developed with expert advice and assistance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Their input is helping to build an infrastructure for replicating model programs and approaches in developing healthy communities nationwide. In addition, the Association of State and Territorial Chronic Disease Program Directors (CDD) and the American Public Health Association are also working with Y-USA in this effort. Health and wellness has been an integral part of YMCAs charitable mission for more than 150 years. YMCA "Activate America" builds upon the YMCA's track record of pioneering programs that respond to timely societal needs. For more information, please visit www.ymca.net.
YMCA Leadership -- Long-Standing Commitment to Spirit, Mind, Body
Serving more than 10,000 communities and neighborhoods, no institution is better positioned to act as a unifying force in this effort than YMCA of the USA, the national resource office for 2,575 YMCAs. Offering a broad range of programs including youth leadership and volunteerism, YMCAs are collectively the nation's largest providers of child care, afterschool, and youth sports programs and are working to incorporate physical activity into all aspects of youth, family and community programming. Visit www.ymca.net for more information.
JCPenney Afterschool is committed to helping provide children with high-quality, affordable afterschool programs to help them reach their full potential. The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization contributing financial support to five of America's leading Afterschool child care providers and advocates - YMCA of the USA, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Afterschool Alliance, 4-H and Junior Achievement. JCPenney Afterschool's support helps provide safe, fun and educational afterschool programs and raise awareness of the need for more such programs across the country.
About Kimberly-Clark Corporation
Kimberly-Clark and its well-known brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 250 countries. Everyday, 1.3 billion people - nearly a quarter of the world's population - trust their brands to enhance their health, hygiene and well-being - brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend.
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