COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE GET BOOST IN FIGHT TO KEEP KIDS FIT

Washington D.C., October 4, 2004 – This week, the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) applauded the 237 recipients of the U.S. Department of Education’s 2004 Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress (PEP) federal grants.

PEP grants help cover the costs to develop or expand physical education programs for students K-12. Now in its fourth year, the Education Department’s PEP program has served as a critical funding source for 687 schools and community organizations nationwide.

“Building communities and programs that encourage physical activity every day is an essential part of a healthy future for our children,” said ACFN Chair Susan Finn, Ph.D., R.D. “ACFN proudly supports the federal PEP grants because they empower communities to make decisions that best fit their needs without imposing unnecessary mandates on local school spending or priorities.”

“We know that communities that develop customized approaches to fit their own cultural, environmental and economic circumstances are more likely to see long-term success in combating obesity,” Finn added. “Towards that goal, ACFN provided schools and communities with easy access to grant-writing materials and tools to improve their chances of receiving a PEP grant earlier this year.”

The awards ranged from $52,516 to $721,296 for 237 winners in 45 states, in comparison to the 256 awards in 44 states in 2003. This year, $68.4 million was distributed to winning applicants, up from $59 million in 2003.

To learn more about grant recipients in your state, contact Jennifer Atkinson at 202.715.1547. For information about applying for a PEP grant, visit www.acfn.org or the PEP Grant website.

CONTACT
Laura Sheehan
202.715.1526
laura@acfn.org

Christine Tucci
202.715.1517
christine@acfn.org

ABOUT THE AMERICAN COUNCIL FOR FITNESS AND NUTRITION: The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) is a non-profit organization that brings together food and beverage companies, associations, and health and nutrition advocates to work toward viable long-term solutions to the nation's obesity epidemic. ACFN represents a diverse group of organizations and is guided by an advisory board of experts in the fields of nutrition, physical activity and behavior change. ACFN works with partners to raise awareness of programs and policies that seek to improve health and wellness in America. For more information, please visit www.acfn.org.