Public Vote to Determine Finalists for the End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge

Video ideas range from a smart phone app to a hip hop dance initiative to elementary school sessions merging physical activity with storytelling and math equations, among many others

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) today announced the 10 semifinalists for its End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge. PHA, which works with the private sector and honorary chair First Lady Michelle Obama to end the childhood obesity crisis within a generation, invited Americans to share their ideas for how to end childhood obesity. Applicants – including several kids – submitted creative concepts ranging from smart phone apps to physical education programs to nutrition education efforts.

"The entries PHA received for the End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge show the exceptional creativity of each idea, and how committed Americans are to reversing this trend," said Larry Soler, President and CEO of PHA. "Great ideas can come from anywhere and by working together – public and private, individuals and groups – we can really make a difference."

Now it's up to Americans to vote for their favorite idea. Everyone is invited to cast a vote at the official End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge website from today until February 1, 2013, at noon EST. Three finalists will then be named and invited to present their entrepreneurial ideas at the Building a Healthier Future Summit, March 6 to 8, 2013, in Washington, DC. In hopes of turning their concept into reality, the finalists will present to a panel of judges and the more than 1,000 business, policy and health leaders who attend the Summit.

The Innovation Challenge winner will receive $10,000 along with expert financial, business and marketing advice to launch their idea. Expert advice will be provided by senior executives at:

• StartUp Health, a national academy for health and wellness entrepreneurship, dedicated to helping health care startups succeed
• Edelman, the world's largest PR firm
• McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm

The winner will also get a chance to pitch their idea for potential coverage on the pages of Fortune magazine.

For more information on the End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge and the 2013 Building a Healthier Future Summit, please visit the End Childhood Obesity Innovation Challenge website.

About Partnership for a Healthier America

Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) is devoted to working with the private sector to ensure the health of our nation's youth by solving the childhood obesity crisis. PHA was created in 2010 in conjunction with – but independent from – First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! effort. PHA is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization led by some of the nation's most respected health and childhood obesity experts. The organization brings together public, private and nonprofit leaders to broker meaningful commitments and develop strategies to end childhood obesity. Most importantly, PHA ensures that commitments made are commitments kept by working with unbiased third parties to monitor and publicly report on the progress its partners are making. For more information about PHA, please visit www.aHealthierAmerica.org and follow PHA on Twitter @PHAnews. 

SOURCE Partnership for a Healthier America