Youth Impact Program Partners With the President's Challenge Program to Promote the PALA

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Riki Ellison, Chairman and Founder of the Youth Impact Program (YIP) and a three time Super Bowl winner with the San Francisco 49ers, announced today that YIP has been accepted as an Advocate for the President's Challenge, the premier program of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition.  As a President's Challenge Advocate, YIP will promote the importance of achieving the recommended daily physical activity for the YIP participants through the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA).

In support of Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation, the President's Council is challenging Americans of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to achieve their PALA.  The PALA requires youth participants, ages 6-17, to engage in physical activity for 60 minutes, five days per week, for six out of eight weeks. Adults should participate in 30 minutes of physical activity for the same duration.  All participants who complete the PALA will receive a certificate of achievement signed by the co-chairs of the President's Council, Drew Brees and Dominique Dawes.

The Youth Impact Program (YIP) invests in "at risk," below the poverty line young boys from the ages of 9 to 12 years old in a 4-week intense program through using various university facilities throughout the nation, staff, student athletes and local elementary teachers. The program is a combination of academics and athletics with an emphasis on reading, mathematics and improved life styles along with instruction in football techniques.  

In order to achieve these goals, Riki Ellison and the Youth Impact Program will conduct the following:

1. Commit to more than 600 inner-city boys nationwide to achieve the PALA and use it as a motivational tool to complement the YIP physical and fitness initiatives.  
2. YIP will promote the PALA to all participants in the YIP program to include those who have attended in past years.

Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director, President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition stated, "Getting more children to develop lifelong fitness habits is a main focus of the Council, and the Youth Impact Program's work directly supports the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative to get more youth active and healthy.  We are excited for the Youth Impact Program to promote the PALA to their participants as a way to achieve their daily recommended physical activity and a healthy lifestyle."

Riki Ellison closed his remarks with this comment: "The Youth Impact Program is excited to support the mission of the First Lady's Let's Move! initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation.  We are extremely proud that our program is worthy of a partnership with the President's Challenge program and we will strive for all of the YIP students to understand the importance of achieving the recommended daily physical activity."

About PCFSN

The President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) is a committee of up to 25 volunteer citizens appointed by the President to serve in an advisory capacity through the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Through its programs and partnerships with the public, private and non-profit sectors, PCFSN serves as a catalyst to promote healthy lifestyles through fitness, sports and nutrition programs and initiatives that educate, empower and engage Americans of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. For more information about PCFSN visit www.fitness.gov. For more information about the President's Challenge programs, including the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) visit www.presidentschallenge.org.

NOTE TO MEDIA:  Mr. Riki Ellison and Mr. Marco Impeduglia are both available for personal interviews.  Call Mike Terrill, Media Coordinator for the Youth Impact Program, at 602 885-1955 to arrange.  The YIP web site is www.youthimpactprogram.org.

SOURCE Youth Impact Program