Schools Nationwide Prepare to Celebrate 5th Annual Every Kid Healthy Week

School and Community Events Highlight Importance of Student Health & Wellness

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Mar 23, 2017, 09:22 ET

CHICAGO, March 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Schools across the country are preparing to celebrate the fifth annual Every Kid Healthy Week, April 24-28, to mark their accomplishments in creating healthier school environments for students. Since Every Kid Healthy Week was launched by Action for Healthy Kids (AFHK) in 2013, more than 3,500 schools and two million students, school staff and community volunteers have celebrated Every Kid Healthy Week. Through a variety of physical activities and nutrition-themed events, schools will demonstrate their commitment to improving school foods, nutrition education, physical activity and physical education for all students and the impact these programs have on student health and academic performance.

"Educators now widely recognize the importance of ensuring kids are physically active and eating healthy foods as part of the school day, but the need to support health and wellness programs in schools remains a critical health and education issue," said Rob Bisceglie, CEO of Action for Healthy Kids. "Working with dozens of other organizations nationwide, we are collectively trying to help put kids on a healthy path so they can succeed academically and develop habits that will keep them healthy for a lifetime."

Every Kid Healthy Week is an annual observance shared by schools, families, volunteers and community organizations celebrated the last week of April and recognized on the calendar of National Health Observances. Events range from taste testing healthy foods and planting school gardens to renovating school playgrounds and hosting family fitness nights, and much more. Interested schools can visit EveryKidHealthyWeek.org to find resources and learn how to host an event. Schools are also invited to register their health promoting events with AFHK by April 7 for the chance to win one of 10 $100 mini-grants and put their school on the Every Kid Healthy heat map.

This year, schools don't get to have all the fun. Any company or organization that wants to host a health-promoting event for employees during Every Kid Healthy Week can register their event with Action for Healthy Kids through a SurveyMonkey questionnaire. Everyone is encouraged to join the celebration online by sharing photos of their events in social media using #EveryKidHealthy.

National sponsors of Every Kid Healthy Week 2017 include ALDI, CSX Transportation and GoGo squeeZ®. GoGo squeeZ® has also provided $100 stipends to the first 250 schools that committed to hosting a healthy snacking and nutrition education event as part of their Every Kid Healthy Week celebration.

National partners include 85 state-level partners and Alliance for a Healthier Generation, America Walks, CDC, Colorado Education Initiative, CSPI, Food Research & Action Center, Let's Move! Active Schools, Mom's Rising, National Association of School Nurses, National Dairy Council, National Farm to School Network, National PTA, Partnership for a Healthier America, School-Based Health Alliance, Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior and USDA.

About Action for Healthy Kids®
Action for Healthy Kids® is a nationwide grassroots network mobilizing school professionals, families and communities to take actions that improve school foods, nutrition education and physical education for all students. With funding opportunities, expert technical assistance, and our flagship program, Game On, Action for Healthy Kids provides full support to schools and families to develop healthy school environments where children thrive. To learn more about the ways our 120,000+ volunteer network is helping to make every kid healthy and ready to learn, visit us at www.ActionforHealthyKids.org, on Facebook (act4healthykids) and on Twitter (@Act4HlthyKids).

SOURCE Action for Healthy Kids