Nickelodeon to Participate in First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move Campaign to Tackle Childhood Obesity

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Feb 09, 2010, 12:37 ET

NEW YORK, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon President Cyma Zarghami announced today that Nickelodeon will join the First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, in her nationwide Let's Move www.LetsMove.gov campaign to solve the problem of childhood obesity in this generation. Nickelodeon will offer its resources and research to the campaign, including kid and family-targeted PSAs featuring the First Lady, and special programming events on its channels and websites.

"Nickelodeon is honored to work together with the First Lady and to be part of the Let's Move campaign to stop the rise of childhood obesity," Zarghami said. "This is an issue we have been addressing for many years and we are pleased to offer our resources and research expertise about kids and families."

For almost seven years, Nickelodeon has empowered kids with resources, tools and the information they need to live healthier lifestyles, and has committed millions of dollars and air time to health and wellness messaging through its "Let's Just Play" pro-social campaign and grants program. Nickelodeon's involvement in Let's Move will augment the campaign's goal to increase healthy schools and kids' physical activity, improve the accessibility and affordability of healthy foods, and empower consumers to make healthier choices in their lives.

Nickelodeon has a legacy of addressing important issues to kids including health and wellness. Its "Let's Just Play" campaign has motivated more than one million kids to get out and play during Nick's annual Worldwide Day of Play, and 500,000 kids to pledge to live healthier lifestyles through its Let's Just Play Go Healthy Challenge. Along with partners such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the NFL, The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, William J. Clinton Foundation, American Heart Association and thousands of local schools and community-based organizations, Nickelodeon hosts thousands of health and wellness-themed events annually around the world.

Additionally, Nickelodeon has awarded approximately $3 million in grants to schools and after-school programs to help create and expand opportunities for physical play. Nickelodeon and "Let's Just Play" have been recognized by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, CTPAA, Kaiser Family Foundation, Institute of Medicine and the Federal Trade Commission as an example of how media can make a positive impact on kids' lives.

Nickelodeon, now in its 30th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 15 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

SOURCE Nickelodeon