Winners of the Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes Announced

WASHINGTON, March 19, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF) and Discovery Education, in partnership with Sports Authority and Playworld Systems, today announced the winners of the annual Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes.  Awarding $100,000 in prizes to schools across the country, the sweepstakes is part of EnergyBalance101.com, a website that provides free energy balance curriculum to teachers, parents, administrators and school nurses. 

Chosen from more than 125,000 entries nationwide, Dupont Elementary in Hopewell, Va., and Speake School in Danville, Ala., have both won the Grand Prize and will receive $30,000 in sporting equipment from Sports Authority and a new playground for their school from Playworld Systems.  

"We're delighted to be able to award these prizes to Dupont Elementary and Speake School," said Lisa Gable, HWCF President.  "The $30,000 of prizes and new playground equipment will give these schools the resources they need to provide their students with new and exciting ways to be active at school."  

Recognizing the need to support low income schools, for the first time the sweepstakes designated one Grand Prize for a Title 1 school, which went to Martha Staples, a K-2 teacher at Dupont Elementary. "We are beyond excited about being a grand prize winner," said Ms. Staples. "A new playground has been number one on our wish list for many years."  

Title 1 Schools are schools with percentages of low income students of at least 40 percent, as defined by the US Department of Education. 

Speake School K-2 Teacher Leslie Archer entered the sweepstakes hoping to give her students equipment they otherwise would not have access to.  "Winning this sweepstakes means the world to our school," said Principal Tina Blankenship. "We rely heavily on grants and donations, but have never received anything of this size. Our playground hasn't been updated in more than 15 years, so this prize is much needed and greatly appreciated."

"Discovery Education is dedicated to providing free resources to educators, families and students that allow them to explore their curiosity in a variety of curricular areas," said Mary Rollins, Discovery Education vice president.  "We are thrilled to provide the winning schools with the tools they need to achieve a healthy lifestyle."

HWCF and Discovery Education have also awarded three runners-up with $5,000 worth of sporting equipment from Sports Authority - Hearthstone Charter School in Oroville, VA, Classical Academy in Escondido, CA, and Tates Creek Elementary School in Lexington, KY.

To view the full release, click here.

SOURCE Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation