A grant from PepsiCo will enable Rowan County YMCA to buy pedometers for each child in the summer day camp program.
A pedometer is an instrument a person carries when walking to measure the distance covered and is another tool YMCA officials use to promote health and wellness programs.
PepsiCo, one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies, is providing $12,500 to the YMCA of Rowan County for such health and wellness programs.
PepsiCo is providing a total of $1 million, divided into 400 grants to local YMCAs around the country to support the YMCAs’ nationwide Activate America initiative.
Besides pedometers, Rowan County YMCA officials plan to use the grant money to buy game equipment and supplies and healthy lunches and snacks.
At day camp, children learn to become more physically active and aware of healthy eating choices. Camp activities are designed to gradually increase the children’s fitness level, strength and stamina.
“We are very grateful for PepsiCo’s support of our health and wellness initiatives,” Jamie Morgan, chief executive officer for the YMCA of Rowan County, said in a press release. “They know, as we do, that to reverse the obesity epidemic, Americans must change the dangerous course of physical inactivity and poor nutrition that threatens the long-term health of our country.”
Stephanie Rath, senior marketing manager for the PepsiCo Health and Wellness Team, said, “Through our long-term alliance, PepsiCo and the YMCA share a common goal to find better ways to help Americans lead healthier, more active lifestyles. Working together, we have tremendous potential to encourage individuals and families to become more physically active and make better nutritional choices across the country.”
YMCA Activate America is making healthy living a reality by:
– Helping YMCAs support individuals who continuously try but are unable to sustain a commitment to healthy living.
– Helping YMCAs reduce community barriers and increase community supports for healthy living.
– Helping YMCAs collaborate across public, private and not-for-profit sectors to make an impact on the nation’s health crisis.