Michael & Susan Dell Foundation Applauds the First Lady's 'Let's Move!' Campaign to End Childhood Obesity

AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Susan Dell, co-founder and board chair of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, released the following statement regarding First Lady Michelle Obama's new "Let's Move!" initiative:

"The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation applauds the announcement of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign to end childhood obesity. We believe preventing childhood obesity requires addressing the issue wherever children live, learn and play. We believe this task force will help ensure parents, schools, communities, companies and lawmakers take an active role solving the childhood obesity challenge in our country. Mrs. Obama's powerful voice shines a spotlight on this important issue, and she is already demonstrating her ability to convene supporters and important advocates from the medical, business, sports, entertainment, policy and philanthropy arenas. We welcome Mrs. Obama's efforts and look forward to working with her and others to help our kids be healthier."

A few months ago, Mrs. Dell narrated Be Well: Messages from Moms on Living Healthier Lives, a book featuring healthy tips from real moms that is available to any parent in the U.S. at low or no cost. The book is a product of the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a partnership of the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation. Be Well (www.bewellbook.org) features the stories of 15 moms who are creatively finding ways to fight childhood obesity in their homes and communities. It encourages every mother to become a champion for instilling healthy habits in our next generation and consider ways to help them eat better and be more active.

In addition to the book, the Dell family foundation has provided childhood health-related grants of over $70 million to organizations like The Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living, Dell Pediatric Research Center, Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH), Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC), and others. The book and grantees demonstrate the foundation's commitment to helping improve the health and education of children and eradicating childhood obesity.

Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation (www.msdf.org) is dedicated to improving the lives of children living in urban poverty around the world. With offices in Austin, TX, Cape Town, South Africa and New Delhi, India, the Dell family foundation funds programs that foster high-quality public education and childhood health, and improve the economic stability of families living in poverty. The foundation has committed more than $650 million to global children's issues and community initiatives to date.

For more information on the Be Well: Messages from Moms on Living Healthier Lives, please visit www.bewellbook.org.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is separate and distinct from the Dell Foundation. In first reference, please use 'The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.' For second references, 'the Dell family foundation' is correct.

SOURCE Michael & Susan Dell Foundation