In Search of a World Record

SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine, March 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Records are made to be broken and a Guinness World Record was likely shattered thanks to the help of children and teens across Maine.  On March 22, 60 kids at the South Portland Clubhouse joined their peers across the state and country - more than 800 Boys & Girls Clubs in all - to break the Guinness World Record for the most people doing "jumping jacks" – or "star jumps".  

Conducted through Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Triple Play program, with support from founding sponsor Coca-Cola and the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation, the World Record attempt is a part of the Clubs' ongoing efforts to encourage kids to eat healthier, become more physically active and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships.

"We are so proud of all the kids and families who took part in this historic event," said Jen Pierce, Unit Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine.  "By jumping their way into history, they proved that you don't need equipment or a gym membership to get active and be healthy.  Fitness can start with something as simple as a jumping jack."

To break the current record, more than 278 kids needed to complete the attempt.  While the official verdict will come from Guinness in a couple of weeks, all indications are that the record has been broken.

"Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine is committed to improving health in our communities and is proud to help bring the Triple Play program to Boys & Girls Clubs throughout our state," said Jeffrey Holmstrom, D.O., medical director at Anthem. "By helping our kids learn healthy habits at a young age, we can give them the tools they need to live their healthiest, longest lives possible, and maybe even break some records along the way."  Dr. Holmstrom and Slugger from the Portland Sea Dogs were on hand at the South Portland Clubhouse during the world record attempt.

"Coca-Cola is proud to support the Triple Play initiative in partnership with the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation," said Quinton Martin, vice president, community marketing. "Research shows that this program is working – Triple Play is succeeding in getting kids to exercise more, eat a variety of foods and feel good about themselves. We are committed to promoting programs that help children, teens and adults live active, healthy lifestyles."

Nearly one-third of children and teens in the U.S. are obese or overweight, according to multiple studies.  Children and adults can avoid these devastating diseases by adopting and maintaining healthy habits early on.  

Jumping jacks are called "star jumps" in some countries because the arms, legs and head form a five-pointed star. The record is defined as, "the most people star jumping simultaneously at multiple venues for two consecutive minutes," according to Guinness World Records.  

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine

The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine is to inspire and enable all young people, particularly those who need us most, to realize their full potential as responsible, productive and caring citizens. To learn more, please visit www.bgcmaine.org

About Triple Play

Triple Play: A Game Plan for the Mind, Body and Soul was launched in 2005 by Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) in collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services with support from The Coca-Cola Company to encourage kids to eat healthier, become more physically active and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships. A two-year study of more than 2,000 children ages 9-14 showed that Triple Play succeeded in getting them to exercise more, eat healthier foods and feel better about themselves. The study found that Triple Play kids increased to 90 percent of the federally recommended amount of daily exercise, which is 60 minutes a day for children, while their peers outside the program decreased to 78 percent. To date, Triple Play has helped more than one million kids learn the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition. In 2011, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation joined BGCA and Coca-Cola as a Triple Play sponsor. Learn more about the program at www.bgca.org/tripleplay.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, the world's most valuable brand, the Company's portfolio features 14 billion dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and coffees. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate of 1.7 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

About the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation

Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, promotes Anthem's inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to reduce the number of uninsured as well as organizations and nonprofit charities that promote the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company's annual associate giving campaign and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match of associates' campaign pledges. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. To learn more about the Foundation please visit www.wellpointfoundation.org.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.  Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.  

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine