First Lady Maureen McDonnell Presents Dupont Elementary School With Healthy Playground Makeover

HOPEWELL, Va., May 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the First Lady of Virginia, Mrs. Maureen McDonnell, visited Dupont Elementary School to present them with the Grand Prize in the Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes, which includes a brand new playground from Playworld Systems and $30,000 worth of sporting equipment from Sports Authority. The sweepstakes is part of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF) and Discovery Education's Energy Balance 101, an online destination that provides free energy balance curriculum to teachers, parents, administrators and school nurses.

"It is my great pleasure to award Dupont Elementary with a new playground and sporting equipment on behalf of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and Discovery Education," said Mrs. McDonnell.  "Virginia is committed to fighting childhood obesity, and so I am delighted to see these two organizations provide such value to schools. Health and wellness has always been a key component of my First Lady's Initiatives Team Effort (FLITE)."  

Martha Staples, a K-2 teacher at Dupont Elementary, had the winning entry for Title 1 Schools out of a total entry pool of over 129,000.  "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." 

"Along with our partners, Discovery Education, Sports Authority and Playworld Systems, we are thrilled to award Mrs. Staples and the students at Dupont Elementary with the grand prize," said Lisa Gable, HWCF President.  "We are committed to providing schools with the resources they need to teach students the importance of energy balance."

"Discovery Education is pleased to provide Dupont Elementary School with the tools they need to engage and educate students on important issues like energy balance that extend beyond classroom instruction," said Mary Rollins, Discovery Education vice president. "We believe that this sweepstakes, along with the Energy Balance 101 program, will help the school, its students and their families take important strides in achieving a healthy lifestyle."  

Also in attendance at the award ceremony were Hopewell Mayor Christina Luman-Bailey, Del. Riley Ingram, Superintendent of Schools Dr. John A. Fahey and State Senator Henry Marsh.

About Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation brings together over 200 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.

To see the full release, click here.

SOURCE Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation