MGM Resorts International Joins with the Jared Foundation to Battle Childhood Obesity

LAS VEGAS, Nev., Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) and the Jared Foundation announced plans to work toward expanding a program that addresses chronic weight and obesity issues among children living in the region.

"We are what we eat and the United States is facing a widely-documented crisis and epidemic," said Jim Murren, Chairman & CEO of MGM Resorts International at the announcement of the expansion of the Coordinated Approach to Childhood Health in Las Vegas.

"CATCH transforms a child's environment, culture and society by coordinating child health efforts across all aspects of the educational experience: classroom, food services, physical education, and family. CATCH adds healthy eating and physical activity to the school environment and drives the message home to parents through family and community outreach," said Jared Fogle, a healthy eating advocate and spokesperson for SUBWAY® restaurants.

Murren and Fogle announced a fundraising campaign of $235,000. MGM Resorts International has donated an initial $25,000 to help broaden the program.

CATCH has been recognized and recommended by the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation among other organizations. It focuses on addressing the issues of childhood obesity by transforming a child's environment by coordinating child health efforts across all aspects of the educational experience: classroom, food services, physical education, and family.

CATCH has been implemented in 132 after-school sites in Southern Nevada since 2010, serving 7000 children daily with physical activity and nutrition lessons. A federal obesity prevention grant allowed Southern Nevada Health District to bring CATCH training and programming to four parks and recreation departments and after school program sites in Boulder City, North Las Vegas, the Cities of Las Vegas and Henderson, and the YMCA of Southern Nevada.

About MGM Resorts

MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's leading global hospitality companies, operating a peerless portfolio of destination resort brands, including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. For more information about MGM Resorts International, visit the Company's website at www.mgmresorts.com.

About the Jared Foundation

Established in 2004 by SUBWAY® restaurants spokesman Jared Fogle, the Jared Foundation's mission is to eliminate childhood obesity. As a leader in the movement to help children learn life-long healthy diet and exercise habits, the Jared Foundation strives to raise awareness and develop programs that educate and inspire kids to live healthier, happier lives. It develops easy-to-use tools that encourage kids to exercise and eat healthy, supports parents, schools and community organizations with educational programs and materials and forms strategic partnerships with influential organizations that will advance our mission through the development and application of programs that address Childhood Obesity.

SOURCE MGM Resorts International