Allianz Foundation for North America Provides $50,000 Grant to Greater Richmond Fit4Kids
New grant supports Fit4Kids Mission of Improving Young People’s Health
Allianz Foundation for North America has awarded a $50,000 grant to Greater Richmond Fit4Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving young people’s health and reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity in the Richmond region. The grant will be used to support the innovative programs offered by Fit4Kids that promote physical activity and healthy eating in schools, community organizations and beyond.
Greater Richmond Fit4Kids offers innovative programs that reach more than 7,500 young people each year in Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, Hopewell, and Petersburg. The organization works with more than 30 schools and numerous community partners on programs that include Learning Gardens, Wellness Integration, Safe Routes to School, Food Explorers, and Eat Fresh RPS.
“The Allianz Foundation is committed to empowering young people to shape a secure future, not least by helping them develop a better understanding of health and wellness,” said Christopher Worthley, Executive Director of the Allianz Foundation for North America. “We’re pleased to support Greater Richmond Fit4Kids in their mission to encourage a healthy diet and lifestyle for young people in the Richmond region.”
Fit4Kids will launch “Game On, Girl” an innovative out-of-school time program to engage adolescent girls in physical activity. This is a new program designed as a response to the compelling research that paints a bleak picture regarding girls and physical activity. For example, girls’ activity level drops by as much as 83% as they transition through adolescence. The proposed program has three components: after school physical activity programming for middle school girls, leadership and community engagement programming for female high school athletes, and a three-day leadership summit during the Summer for adolescent girls. The program will reach 90 middle school girls in the after school program and 20 high school girls. Fifty girls will participate in the Summer academy.
“We truly appreciate this significant support from Allianz and the Allianz Foundation to help us reach more young people with programs that have the potential to shape and change lives,” said Mary Dunne Stewart, CEO at Greater Richmond Fit4Kids. “Healthy lifestyles are the cornerstone of healthy lives and we’re thrilled to receive this recognition and funding to continue this important mission.”
As one of the world’s largest financial services companies, Allianz is committed to improving the communities where it has significant operations. The company, which operates Allianz Worldwide Partners in Richmond, understands that children are the key to a bright and successful future. Allianz and its philanthropic arm in the United States, the Allianz Foundation for North America, have chosen to recognize and support innovative programs like Fit4Kids which work so hard to make their community a better place to live and work.
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Allianz Foundation for North America
The mission of the Allianz Foundation for North America is to empower young people to shape a secure future for themselves and for the communities in which they live. The Foundation is committed to creating sustainable social value by partnering with programs that help young people develop the skills, motivation, perspectives and opportunities they need to be successful, self-reliant and socially conscious members of society.
Greater Richmond Fit4Kids
Fit4KidsGreater Richmond Fit4Kids, Inc. is a non-profit organization created to improve the health and wellness of children by increasing physical activity and promoting healthy eating. The organization is focused on improving children’s health and reducing childhood obesity. More information can be found at www.grfit4kids.org.
For further information contact:
Daniel Durazo
(804) 673-7175
Contact
Greater Richmond Fit4Kids
Mary Dunne Stewart
804-307-9161, mary@grfit4kids.org
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