GENYOUth Foundation Launches "Movement" With Corporate Partners at 10th Annual Fitness Magazine Mind, Body + Spirit Games September 17th in Central Park

NEW YORK, Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The GENYOUth Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating childhood obesity, today announced it will sponsor the Kids' Races at the 10th Annual FITNESS Magazine Mind, Body + Spirit Games in partnership with the New York Road Runners in Central Park on Saturday, September 17th. GENYOUth is launching a nationwide movement with newly aligned corporate partners The Quaker Oats Company, Xbox, Discovery Education, and Meredith Corporation, as well as founding partners Kraft Foods and LALA Foods, to inspire and educate youth to change their behavior by improving their nutrition and increasing physical activity.

Devoted to health and fitness, the FITNESS Magazine Mind, Body + Spirit Games will feature opportunities for kids and adults to eat right and improve their health through physical activity. Quaker Coach and fitness expert Bob Harper will host the start of the Men's Race and both Harper and NFL Alumni Great and GENYOUth Ambassador Amani Toomer will host the GENYOUth sponsored Kid's Races. Harper will also provide fitness tips, menu and exercise ideas targeting healthier family lifestyles and wellness activities.

"Our sponsorship of the FITNESS Magazine Mind, Body + Spirit Games marks the launch of GENYOUth's Movement to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity here in America," commented Alexis Glick, CEO of GENYOUth Foundation. "We know that by educating and engaging kids and their families we can inspire and empower them to make simple but meaningful life-changing decisions about their health and wellness -- and what better way to do it than to team with the best-in-class partners to help build awareness for GENYOUth's efforts."

"It's such an inspiration to see thousands of families coming together at this event year after year to celebrate being healthy, strong and happy," says Betty Wong, Editor-in-Chief, FITNESS magazine. "The day embodies what our brand stands for—embracing and enjoying fitness at any age."

In addition to the races, GENYOUth will also host the 'GENYOUTH Experience' adjacent to the race area where kids and parents alike will have the opportunity to learn about health and wellness and GENYOUth, sample Quaker breakfast and other sponsors' products, interact with Kinect for Xbox 360, meet former NFL players, take a nutrition and fitness quiz and enjoy a photo experience where consumers can get their photo taken with a super-imposed image of Quaker Coach and fitness expert Bob Harper, which will be emailed to them instantly.

The event serves as the launch of the GENYOUth movement – a call to action for parents and kids to eat better and become more physically active. More information will be available at http://www.facebook.com/pages/GENYOUth-Foundation/228551863852842 or on the website, www.genyouthfoundation.org beginning on September 17th.

According to Harper, here are some ways that families at home can join the movement. It starts with YOU!

• Begin with a balanced breakfast - it's an important meal, yet many people often mistakenly skip it.

• Small stretches in the morning help get your body going whether you are exercising or not.  Your body needs a warm up after sleeping.

• Make it a point to stay active every day – this is as simple as jumping rope, riding a bike or taking a walk around the neighborhood. Parents and kids can even do these together.

• Eat dinner together.  It's nice to start and end the day together.

"Meredith is pleased to partner with GENYOUth to help launch their healthy living platform because the idea of families working, eating and playing together has always been a message we've championed," says Chief Innovation Officer at Meredith Corporation, Jeannine Shao Collins. "Like so many other mothers across the country, I'm on the front lines of the daily battle for good nutrition and physical activity. I know that together, Meredith and GENYOUth can encourage more moms to advocate for better health and wellness not just for their families, but for all families."

For more information, please visit www.nyrr.org or call 212-860-4455. On race day, registration and number pickup will be in Central Park at the registration tent from 7:45 to 8:45 a.m. for the men's race and 8:45 to 9:45 a.m. for the women's race. Registration and race number distribution for the Kids' Races is open until 10:45 a.m.

About GENYOUth Foundation

Over the past ten years, we have seen explosive growth in the number of children identified as overweight or obese. GENYOUth brings leaders in health, education, government and business together in a movement to reverse childhood obesity rates.  GENYOUth empowers students to improve nutrition and physical activity with small steps to accelerate a lifetime of healthy changes. When youth are given a voice, change can happen.  It Starts With You! For more information, visit www.genyouthfoundation.org.

About The Quaker Oats Company

The Quaker Oats Company, headquartered in Chicago, is a unit of PepsiCo, Inc., one of the world's largest consumer packaged goods companies. For more than 130 years, Quaker's brands have served as symbols of quality, great taste and nutrition. Holding No. 1 positions in their respective categories, Quaker Oats, Quaker Rice Cakes and Quaker Chewy Granola Bars are consumer favorites. For more information, please visit www.QuakerOats.com or follow us on www.Facebook.com/Quaker.

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.

About Meredith Corporation

Meredith Corporation (NYSE: MDP; www.meredith.com) is the leading media and marketing company serving American women.  Meredith features multiple well-known national brands – including Better Homes and Gardens, Parents, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, Fitness, More, Eating Well and American Baby – along with local television brands in fast-growing markets.  Meredith is the industry leader in creating content in key consumer interest areas such as home, family, health and wellness and self-development.  Meredith uses multiple distribution platforms – including print, television, online, mobile, Tablets, and video – to give consumers content they desire and to deliver the messages of its advertising and marketing partners. According to the Advertising Industry Reports (AIR) survey of over 1,500 agency and marketing professionals, Meredith is the nation's "Highest Rated Media Company." 

About FITNESS magazine

Launched in 1992, FITNESS magazine is a leading source for all the latest news on health, nutrition and exercise. The magazine and its partner website, fitnessmagazine.com, are devoted to delivering strategies and tools that help women make little changes to achieve big success. With a you-can-do-it attitude, our workouts, health and beauty advice, diet plans and success stories motivate readers to get strong in mind, body and spirit. The magazine empowers women to embrace fitness as a lifestyle—not an age or dress size—and to change the conversation from "skinny" to "healthy." FITNESS is published 10 times a year by Meredith Corporation, with a rate base of 1.5 million and an audience of 7.4 million readers.  For more information, please visit www.fitnessmagazine.com.

SOURCE GENYOUth Foundation