Alliance for a Healthier Generation Celebrates National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month with Youth Fitness Events in Six Cities

News provided by

Sep 13, 2010, 11:00 ET

Paul Pierce, Donovan McNabb, and others join Alliance at Recess ROCKS! Events in Boston, New York, D.C., Cleveland, Little Rock and Hartford

NEW YORK, Sept. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a non-profit founded by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation to reduce childhood obesity, celebrates National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month with Recess ROCKS! events in six U.S. cites. The Alliance is collaborating with local organizations to host a signature field-day, community event for family fun in Washington, D.C., Boston, New York, Little Rock, Cleveland and Hartford, Connecticut in September.

With Recess ROCKS! events in six cities, the Alliance is transforming communities across the country into large playgrounds featuring dozens of energizing activities for kids and families. Recess ROCKS! events inspire young people to make a commitment to their health and help wipe out America's obesity epidemic.

"Kids and their families need to eat better and move more. Recess ROCKS! not only reminds parents how important it is to just get out and play, but also teaches kids fun lessons on nutrition and cool ways to eat right," says NBA All-Star Paul Pierce, National Athlete Spokesman for the Alliance and founder of FitClub34 from Harvard Pilgrim and the Truth on Health Campaign. Pierce's FitClub34 from Harvard Pilgrim will be hosting Recess ROCKS! as part of a youth rally event in Boston.

In addition to Pierce participating in the Boston event, celebrities and professional sport teams joining the fun include, Washington Redskins Quarterback Donovan McNabb (Recess by the River, Washington, D.C.) and the Cleveland Browns and Cleveland Cavaliers (Cleveland).

The events give kids an opportunity to join the Alliance's empowerME Movement— more than two million strong and growing— and commit to better health, and offers parents a host of new ideas for keeping the whole family healthy.

"Recess ROCKS! is the perfect place for kids to make a commitment to be healthy," said Dawson MacKay, 11, Bethesda, Maryland, a Youth Advisory Board member of the empowerME Movement. "By attending a Recess ROCKS! event, joining the empowerME Movement and sharing our stories, we can motivate each other to make sure our generation will live longer, healthier lives."

The six cities hosting Recess ROCKS! events are included below. Youth are encouraged to visit www.empowerme2b.org to get full event information including location and times and learn more about joining the empowerME Movement.

Washington, D.C., September 14, 2010

A day full of fun and educational activities, Recess by the River empowers D.C.'s kids to lead stronger, healthier lives. Presented by CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Recess by the River is an annual event thrown by the American Heart Association with support from D.C. Parks and Recreation and National Association of Teen Fitness and Exercise.

Hartford, CT, September 17, 2010

For the second year in a row, volunteers from Aetna will host a Recess ROCKS! event for children at M.D. Fox Elementary School in Hartford, CT. More than 80 Aetna employees will volunteer their time and energy to educate kids about the importance of eating healthy & how to stay active year round.

Little Rock, AR, September 24, 2010

Recess ROCKS! will be hosted inside World Fest 2010 - the premier student-focused, cultural festival in Central Arkansas presented by the City of Little Rock's Racial and Cultural Diversity Commission, in partnership with the William J. Clinton Presidential Center.

Boston, MA, September 25, 2010

Boston Celtic's Captain Paul Pierce and his FitClub34 from Harvard Pilgrim will celebrate with Boston youth at a rally featuring Recess ROCKS! activities throughout the event. visit: www.truthonhealth.org or www.paulpierce.net.

New York, NY, September 25, 2010

Recess ROCKS will be apart of the 6^th annual Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC RBC Race for the Kids part of Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play! Other festivities include a 4k fun run/walk, healthy food, entertainment provided by Nickelodeon, special guests, face painting and games.

Cleveland, OH, September 26, 2010

More than 50 organizations focused on children's health and wellness join Jordan's Family Foundation, the Cleveland Browns, Cleveland CAVS, Cleveland Indians, Cleveland Gladiators, Lakewood Board of Education and the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital to combat childhood obesity and heart disease. Lakewood Park will be filled with games and activities, along with healthy eating cooking demonstrations, that the entire family will enjoy.

About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation works to address one of the nation's leading public health threats – childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015, and to empower kids to make healthy lifestyle choices. Founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, the Alliance works to positively affect the places that can make a difference to a child's health: homes, schools, doctor's offices and communities. To learn more about the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, visit www.HealthierGeneration.org

SOURCE Alliance for a Healthier Generation