First Be Well Walk to Take Place in Austin on October 2nd

AUSTIN, Texas, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation will host its inaugural Be Well Walk designed to encourage Austin's families to make informed and simple changes to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. The walk is scheduled for Sunday, October 2, 2011 at 4 p.m. at Longhorn Shores on Lady Bird Lake, and all proceeds will benefit local non-profits working to make Austin a healthier community.

This year, 15 partner organizations were chosen who aligned with the Foundation's mission of increasing access to nutrition and physical activity and promoting healthy behaviors.  Participating organizations include: ACTIVELife, Austin Sunshine Camps, Born to Run, Camp Fire USA Balcones Council, Explore Austin, Lone Star Circle of Care, Marathon Kids, Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living/CATCH, People's Community Clinic, Sustainable Food Center, Texas Center for Treatment and Prevention of Childhood Obesity, Trail Foundation, Westcave Preserve, Whole Kids Foundation and YMCA of Austin.

Each group is responsible for raising $5,000, registering 100 walkers for the event and having 100 walkers cross the finish line. Upon meeting these goals, each organization will receive a matching $5,000 donation from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.  Individual walkers from across Central Texas are also encouraged to participate in the event.  Up to 1,000 participants can register via www.bewellwalk.org. The registration fee is $25 and can be directed to one of the 15 participating organizations. This $25 registration fee will be matched by the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, and 100 percent of all registration fees go towards the partner organizations. The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation is underwriting all costs associated with the Be Well Walk.

The event is expected to generate up to $200,000 ($100,000 in fundraising and registration fees and $100,000 match from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation) for local event partners for their health and wellness programming.

"The Be Well Walk is a unique opportunity to exercise and help local organizations working to foster a fit generation of young people in every community in Austin," said Susan Dell, co-founder and chairman on the board for the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.  "Just by joining us on the second of October, anyone in the community can help generate additional funding for our Austin area partners and further their mission to make Austin a healthier place to live."

The Be Well Walk is the latest initiative in the Foundation's continued effort to fight to end childhood obesity.  In the spirit of helping moms give their children the gift of wellness, Susan Dell wrote Be Well: Messages from Moms on Living Healthier Lives. The book is a compilation of the stories of urban moms throughout the country who are working to establish life-long, healthy habits in their children. The Be Well movement has reached moms in 50 states.

For more information and to register for Be Well Walk: Austin 2011, applicants can visit www.BeWellWalk.org.

About the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation

The Michael & Susan Dell Foundationis dedicated to improving the lives of children living in urban poverty around the world. With offices in Austin, TX and New Delhi, India, and Cape Town, South Africa, the Dell family foundation funds programs that foster high-quality public education and childhood health, and improve the economic stability of families living in poverty. The foundation has committed more than $700 million to global children's issues and community initiatives to date. Follow the event on Twitter and on Facebook.

SOURCE The Michael & Susan Dell Foundation