One Week Left to Enter PHA End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge

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Nov 09, 2012, 11:10 ET

Challenge looking for "ideas – not business plans"

Winning idea to help end childhood obesity to receive $10,000 and expert advice to turn concept into reality

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which works with the private sector and honorary chair First Lady Michelle Obama to end the childhood obesity crisis within a generation, knows that when it comes to ending childhood obesity, good ideas can be found all over—from moms and dads, to kids, to start-up companies in garages, to nonprofits, to major corporations. PHA is inviting anyone with a great idea for how to end childhood obesity to enter the End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge. The winning idea will receive $10,000 to kick-start their idea, and expert advice to turn that idea into a reality. Ideas must be submitted by next Friday, Nov. 16, 2012.

The End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge will solicit ideas from people across the country, score them, and then let America vote to decide the three finalists. The finalists will win a trip to Washington, DC, where they'll present their idea before a panel of judges and all attendees at the PHA's Building a Healthier Future Summit, March 6-8, 2013.

The winning idea will receive $10,000 along with the financial, business and marketing advice on ways to turn it into a reality. They'll also get a chance to pitch their idea for potential coverage on the pages of Fortune magazine. Expert advice will be provided by senior leaders at StartUp Health, a national academy for health and wellness entrepreneurship, dedicated to helping health care startups succeed; Edelman, a global marketing and communications company; and McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm.

"Childhood obesity is a societal problem, a health problem, an economic problem – even a national security problem. Our work with the private sector is critical, but we know that great ideas can come from anywhere," said Larry Soler, President and CEO of PHA. "We are all in this fight together, working to end the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. This Challenge seeks to get ideas – not business plans – from as many people as possible and focus the entrepreneurial spirit, creativity and ingenuity of Americans on building a healthier future for our kids."

Applicants are only required to create a video that details their idea in 2 minutes and 30 seconds or less, explaining why their solution is the best solution for America to implement in combating childhood obesity, and to be available March 6-8 to come to Washington, DC, if their idea is one of three finalists.

The deadline for applications is noon (Eastern) on Friday, November 16, 2012. A review committee will narrow down the field to up to 10 submissions. These top videos will be featured on the official End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge website where the public will vote for their favorite. In January 2013, three finalists will be named and invited to present their entrepreneurial ideas at the 2013 Building a Healthier Future Summit to a panel of judges and more than 1,000 thought leaders from multiple sectors.

For more information on the End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge and the 2013 Healthier Future Summit, please visit the End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Partnership-for-a-Healthier-America/284607191574193?sk=app_286423371468352.

About Partnership for a Healthier America
Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) is devoted to working with the private sector to ensure the health of our nation's youth by solving the childhood obesity crisis. In 2010, PHA was created in conjunction with – but independent from – First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! effort. PHA is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that is led by some of the nation's most respected health and childhood obesity experts. PHA brings together public, private and nonprofit leaders to broker meaningful commitments and develop strategies to end childhood obesity. Most importantly, PHA ensures that commitments made are commitments kept by working with unbiased third parties to monitor and publicly report on the progress its partners are making. For more information about PHA, please visit www.aHealthierAmerica.org and follow PHA on Twitter @PHAnews.

SOURCE Partnership for a Healthier America