ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As part of Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic State's focus on improving school health and wellness, the non-profit organization is sponsoring Back to School fairs in Prince George's County, Baltimore City and Montgomery County to prepare children for a healthy school year.

Kaiser Permanente will provide activities and resources at each of the three locations to raise awareness about the importance of immunizations, physical activity and making healthy food choices. The organization's Educational Theater group will perform a nutrition quiz to teach children how to make healthy choices and a certified personal trainer, will lead children and parents through exercises designed to burn calories and increase heart rate. Attendees are also encouraged to try a stationary bicycle that creates spin art. The organization's presence at these events is connected to its broader new program, Thriving Schools, Kaiser Permanente's effort to create a culture of health and wellness in schools.

"We know that when children are healthy, they miss fewer days of school and they learn better in the classroom," said Maritha Gay. Executive Director of Community Benefit programs for Kaiser Permanente. "We are committed to helping children form healthy habits that will prevent chronic conditions and support their academic achievement."

Since 2013, Kaiser Permanente has invested more than $788,200 in funding to support school wellness initiatives and policy efforts throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. The organization has also engaged more than 50 schools in its Thriving Schools program.

Kaiser Permanente will be present at the following events:

• Prince George's County Public Schools (PGCPS) Annual Back to School Fair
  August 9, 2014, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  Showplace Arena, Upper Marlboro Maryland
  14900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
• City of Baltimore Mayor's Back to School Rally
  August 9, 2014, 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
  War Memorial Park in front of City Hall
  100 North Gay Street, Baltimore, MD 21202
• Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Annual Back to School Fair
  August 23, 2014, 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
  Carver Educ. Svcs. Ctr. Parking Lot, Rockville, MD
  850 Hungerford Drive, Rockville, MD 20850

For additional information on the Thriving Schools program, contact kpmasthrivingschools@kp.org.

About Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States
Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States region, headquartered in Rockville, Md., provides and coordinates complete health care services for more than 510,000 members through 29 medical centers in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Founded in 1980, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States is a total health organization comprised of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., and the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C., an independent medical group that features more than 1,000 physicians. Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States was ranked in the nation's 20 top commercial health plans and 10 top Medicare health plans — and the No. 1 Commercial and Medicare plan for Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. — by "NCQA Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2013-2014 Private." For more information about Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, visit kp.org or follow us on Twitter, twitter.com/KPMidAtlantic.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States