January 13, 2010-Cherry Hill, NJ-Destination ImagiNation® (“DI”) today announced a sponsorship expansion with the National Dairy Council® and local dairy councils nationwide to support Fuel Up to Play 60, a new initiative by the National Dairy Council (NDC) and the NFL. This initiative aims to tackle the childhood obesity by mobilizing youth to eat healthy and get 60 minutes of physical activity daily.
Fuel Up to Play 60 will reach approximately 36.6 million students in an expected 60,000 schools nationwide during the 2009-10 school year. DI will support this effort through its Challenge programs, promotion in all Destination ImagiNation program materials and recognition at DI Global Finals. The DI program activates students to use their creativity, teamwork and problem solving skills to solve mind-bending Challenges. The 12- to 16-week Challenge process involving children across the country complements NDC’s efforts to motivate youth to eat healthy and get active. Both NDC and DI will work together at national and local levels to make the 2009-10 Fuel Up to Play 60 program a success.
“DI is privileged to join the Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative,” said Rusty McCarty, Destination ImagiNation’s Creative Director and Chief Operating Officer. “By working together, we believe Fuel Up to Play 60 and Destination ImagiNation can truly challenge our nation’s youth to shape their minds, cultivate healthy habits and develop life-long leadership and problem-solving skills. We are looking forward to an amazing 2009-10 school year that will position both Fuel Up to Play 60 and Destination ImagiNation as great youth-activated options for healthy bodies and minds.”
Youth involved in Fuel Up to Play 60 collaborate in teams to develop and implement healthy eating and physical activity programs for the entire school. The youth teams identify challenges and recommend solutions to encourage 60 minutes of physical activity daily and promote access to nutritional foods, such as low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. The goal is to get youth active and eating more nutrient-rich foods during the school day.
National Dairy Council has sponsored DI for more than a decade, and the announcement of sponsorship expansion marks an evolution in the relationship between the two organizations.
DI’s unique approach to empowering youth to find solutions to mind-bending Challenges through creativity, teamwork and problem solving complements the vision of Fuel Up to Play 60, which centers on youth bringing about real change in school nutrition and physical activity. The Fuel Up to Play 60 program is based on mounting evidence that nutrition and fitness are linked to academic success.
Schools can register for the program at www.FuelUpToPlay60.com to receive a free School Wellness Kit to launch the program in their schools, signup for the national competition and begin tracking their daily eating and physical activity habits. The Destination ImagiNation 2009-10 season is currently underway, and parents and teachers can Start a Team by calling 888-321-1503, or visiting www.IDODI.org for more information.
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About Destination ImagiNation®
Destination ImagiNation, Inc. is an extraordinary non-profit organization that provides two educational programs for students to learn and experience creativity, teamwork and problem solving. Every year, we reach 100,000 students across the U.S. and in more than 30 countries. Destination ImagiNation, our core program, is an exhilarating after-school activity in which students work in teams to solve mind-bending Challenges and present their solutions at Tournaments. In our Destination ImagiNation 4-Life program, we design and implement cause-based programming for client organizations to reach target audiences in a powerful way. Destination ImagiNation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with 1.3 million alumni and a global network of 35,000 volunteers. Visit www.IDODI.org for more information.
About the National Dairy Council®
The National Dairy Council (NDC) is the nutrition research, education and communications arm of Dairy Management, Inc.™ On behalf of U.S. dairy farmers, NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier society, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media.
Established in 1915, NDC is dedicated to educating the public on the health benefits of consuming milk and milk products throughout a person’s lifespan. For more information, visit www.nationaldairycouncil.org.
About NFL PLAY 60
Designed to 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’s PLAY 60 is also implemented locally, as part of the NFL's in-school, after-school and team-based programs. For more information, visit www.NFLRush.com.
