You Call That A Move? NFL Stars Challenge Kids To Get Moving For The Fuel Up To Play 60 Make Your Move Campaign

ROSEMONT, Ill., Oct. 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- We cheer their moves every Sunday, Monday and Thursday on the football field, but do NFL players have the moves off the field? Fans can see for themselves today as Alfred Morris of the Washington Redskins, Corey Wootton of the Chicago Bears, Steve Smith and Luke Kuechly of the Carolina Panthers team up with Fuel Up to Play 60 to launch Make Your Move – a campaign to inspire students, teachers, parents and community members to get active.

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131029/CG04914)

To kick off the campaign, these NFL players and Fuel Up to Play 60 Student Ambassadors battle it out on camera to see who has the ultimate "moves." Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts and spokesperson for The Quaker Oats Company, a subsidiary of PepsiCo, Inc., also makes a special appearance in the video. Make Your Move offers several tangible and easy solutions to help kids get 60 minutes of play a day, with a focus on dance-themed activities from dance-a-thons to in-class dance breaks. Fans can get in on all the action by checking out the "Playbook" of tips and suggestions available at FuelUpToPlay60.com.

Created in partnership by the National Football League and National Dairy Council, which is funded by America's dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fuel Up to Play 60 is the nation's largest in-school wellness program and creates real transformational change in more than 73,000 schools. As a result of the program, last year 14 million students ate better by adding nutritious foods like low-fat and fat-free dairy products, fruits, vegetables and whole grains to their meals. Additionally, 14 million students are getting more physically active because of this program.

"School is where I really learned about the importance of staying active," said Alfred Morris, running back for the Washington Redskins. "P.E. class at school and playing football with my brothers, cousins and friends after class all helped me become the athlete I am today. I will do whatever I can to encourage kids to play for 60 minutes a day - even if it means breaking out my dance moves on camera!"

Make Your Move runs through November and gives students, teachers, families and communities a variety of ways to get involved - all available at FuelUpToPlay60.com:

• Register to get involved! As a Fuel Up to Play 60 participant, students and teachers can earn points and could win NFL prizes and valuable grants for tracking their Make Your Move activities.
• Check out the Playbook for five sample activities to inspire physical activity at schools.
• Parents and teachers can submit on behalf of a school a short video of their kids and students moving and getting active into the Quaker and Fuel Up to Play 60 Make Your Move Video Contest.* Schools will have a chance to win one of five $15,000 grants or one of ten $2,500 grants. 
  • From Oct. 29 through Nov. 27, 2013, video entries can be uploaded at QuakerOats.com/makeyourmove, which is also the hub for official contest rules, entry forms and more. Andrew Luck will also be serving as a guest judge and helping to select the winning schools. Quaker is helping fuel healthy families by donating a total of $125,000 to support Fuel Up to Play 60 and fund school wellness programs.

In addition, schools around the country will be hosting Make Your Move rallies this week, including:

• Kenilworth Elementary School in Bowie, Md. – Hosted by Darryl Tapp, linebacker for the Washington Redskins, on Oct. 29
• Montclair School of Academics and Enrichment in Denver, Colo. – Hosted by Ed McCaffrey, former wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, on Oct. 29
• John H. Kinzie Elementary School in Chicago, Ill. – Hosted by Corey Wootton, defensive end for the Chicago Bears, on Oct. 30

"With research showing that improved nutrition paired with physical activity leads to improved academic achievement, America's dairy farmers are committed to childhood health and wellness through programs like Fuel Up to Play 60," said Jean Ragalie, R.D., President of the National Dairy Council. "We look forward to seeing how Fuel Up to Play 60 schools and students get active with Make Your Move and create lasting, healthy change."

Fuel Up to Play 60 is also partnering with the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD) for the Make Your Move campaign.

"Physical education teachers know that dance is one of the most popular activities among kids," said AAHPERD President Gale Wiedow, Ph.D., of Dakota State University, S.D. "The Make Your Move campaign is a great opportunity for kids to see how much fun it can be to get active every day. Working hand-in-hand with Fuel Up to Play 60 and the NFL, we'll equip schools with the resources they need to inspire kids to take an active role in their health through quality physical education programs."

To learn more about Make Your Move, visit www.FuelUpToPlay60.com.

*No purchase necessary. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. See official rules at QuakerOats.com/makeyourmove. 

About Fuel Up to Play 60

Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Football League (NFL) and National Dairy Council (NDC), which is funded by America's dairy farmers, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-dense foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student challenges. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Association/Foundation, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.

About National Dairy Council

National Dairy Council (NDC), the non-profit organization funded by the national dairy checkoff program, is committed to nutrition education and research-based communications. NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier nation, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Established in 1915, NDC comprises a staff of registered dietitians and nutrition research and communications experts across the country. NDC has taken a leadership role in promoting child health and wellness through programs such as Fuel Up to Play 60. Developed by NDC and the National Football League (NFL), Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. For more information, visit www.NationalDairyCouncil.org

About NFL PLAY 60

Designed to help tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL's long-standing commitment to health and fitness with partner organizations like the National Dairy Council. NFL PLAY 60 is also implemented locally, as part of the NFL's in-school, after-school and team-based programs. For more information, visit NFLRush.com.

About Quaker and Fuel Up to Play 60's Make Your Move Video Contest

Through the Make Your Move Video Contest, Quaker and Fuel Up to Play 60 encourage schools to get moving as part of a healthy lifestyle for the chance to win grants. All entries will be accepted from Oct. 29 at 12:00 a.m. CT to Nov. 27 at 11:59 p.m. CT, pending parental or legal guardian consent is provided.  No individual entrant will receive a prize, entrants are entering the contest on behalf of an active Fuel Up To Play 60 school and the school will receive the prize. A total of 15 official contest prizes will be awarded, with 10 first prize winners and five grand prize winners. For official contest rules and prizing details please visit QuakerOats.com/makeyourmove.

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 leadership 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, www.Facebook.com/Quaker or follow us on Twitter @Quaker.

About PepsiCo

PepsiCo is a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion and a product portfolio that includes 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in annual retail sales.  Our main businesses – Quaker, Tropicana, Gatorade, Frito-Lay and Pepsi-Cola – make hundreds of enjoyable foods and beverages that are loved throughout the world.  PepsiCo's people are united by our unique commitment to sustainable growth by investing in a healthier future for people and our planet, which we believe also means a more successful future for PepsiCo.  We call this commitment Performance with Purpose: PepsiCo's promise to provide a wide range of foods and beverages from treats to healthy eats; to find innovative ways to minimize our impact on the environment by conserving energy and water and reducing packaging volume; to provide a great workplace for our associates; and to respect, support and invest in the local communities where we operate.  For more information, please visit www.pepsico.com.

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About American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD)

The vision of AAHPERD is "Healthy People – Physically Educated and Physically Active!" Headquartered in Reston, VA, 25 miles west of Washington, DC, AAHPERD is the largest organization of professionals involved in physical education, physical activity, dance, school health and sport—all specialties related to achieving an active, healthy lifestyle. Founded in 1885, its mission is to advance professional practice and promote research related to health and physical education, physical activity, dance and sport by providing its members with a comprehensive and coordinated array of resources, support and programs to help practitioners improve their skills to further the health and well-being of the American public. For more information, visit www.aahperd.org.

For More Information:
Joanna Hunter
312-240-2880
[email protected]

SOURCE Fuel Up to Play 60