$35,000 to Turn 'Ugly Duckling' Playground into 'Beautiful Swan'

CENTENNIAL, Colo., April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A school that was told it had to upgrade its playground equipment to make it acceptable to state officials got the resources it needs to do exactly that today when it was presented with the Grand Prize of the Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes.

Saint Thomas More Catholic School of Centennial, Colorado won the Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes, sponsored by the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF) and Discovery Education. The Grand Prize winning school is receiving $25,000 in new equipment and supply upgrades from Sports Authority, a $10,000 grant specifically to improve their playground, and watches from Paul Pierce's organization, "Paul Pierce's The Truth on Health."

"Kids take to play like fish take to water, but in too many places kids just don't have a place to let go," said HWCF executive director Lisa Gable. "The new playground equipment will be a big boost to physical activity."

HWCF and Discovery launched the contest to promote physical activity in schools, a prime element of Energy Balance 101, their free, website-based program for teachers, students, families and communities, http://EnergyBalance101.com. HWCF has pointed out that the best way to counter the threat of childhood obesity is by promoting energy balance – a combination of healthy eating (for fewer calories in) and healthy physical activity (for more calories out).

"Discovery Education is committed to supporting educators and students by providing the free tools and resources they need to make healthy decisions," said Mary Rollins, Vice President, Corporate Education Partnerships, Discovery Education. "Our Energy Balance 101 curriculum teaches young people they can achieve a healthy weight through the simple concept of energy balance – calories in and calories out."

The sweepstakes attracted more than 31,000 entries from schools across America. The Grand Prize entry came from Alicia Berg, a parent who entered on behalf of St. Thomas More. Mrs. Berg and St. Thomas More administrators intend to share the prize with other needy schools in their parish, making their prize truly grand!

HWCF is also awarding five Second-Prize winners from all over the country with $15,000 each in new equipment and supply upgrades from Sports Authority. The winning schools are:

• Cotee River Elementary School in New Port Richey, Florida
• Fain Elementary School in Wichita Falls, Texas
• Hilltop Elementary School in Seattle
• Park Elementary School in Swanton, Ohio
• Rochester Middle School in Rochester, Illinois

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (www.healthyweightcommit.org) brings together more than 160 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, restaurants, sporting goods and insurance companies, a professional sports organization, NGOs, trade associations, and the U.S. Army aimed at doing their part to help families reduce obesity, especially childhood obesity.

About Discovery Education

Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) revolutionized television with Discovery Channel and is now transforming classrooms through Discovery Education.  Powered by the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Discovery Education combines scientifically proven, standards-based digital media and a dynamic user community in order to empower teachers to improve student achievement.  Already, more than half of all U.S. schools access Discovery Education digital services.  Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.

SOURCE Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation