The Chicago Mayor's Fitness Council, formed in 2002, is a nonprofit, volunteer organization comprised of approximately 40 of Chicago's most elite and influential associations. Members include companies, federations, fitness facilities, foundations, health clubs, hospitals, institutes, manufacturers, organizations, personal trainers, public school system and professional sports teams with a shared interest in health, fitness and physical activity.

Each May, in honor of Physical Fitness and Sports Month, the Chicago Mayor's Council and Bally Total Fitness in cooperation with the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District host "Chicago Moves Day". Moves Day kicks off the Mayor's Fitness Council Challenge, a call to action to get Chicagoans to start moving to fight obesity. As part of this initiative Chicagoans will be encouraged to sign up for the President's Challenge and earn a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award. For more information please visit www.chicagoworksout.com.



www.shapeupchallenge.org

Here in the Fittest State, we think of our “Shape Up Across Colorado” program as a warm up for the President’s Challenge – two great programs encouraging people to be active. We’re honored to partner with a program with as rich a tradition as the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. We join you in your efforts to get Americans out of the office, out from behind the desk, and up off the couch!

We’re keeping Colorado fit through the Colorado Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness’ unique activity program, Shape Up – which is both simple and quite effective. Shape Up participants are given an activity card with a 400 square grid map of Colorado. The 400 squares represent the 400 mile distance across the state. For every 10 to 30 minutes of physical activity the participant colors one square – which represents approximately 2,000 steps or one mile and is equivalent to approximately 75 calories burned. The goal is for participants to color five squares – the equivalent of 10,000 steps – per day as suggested by the Surgeon General.

If you have any questions, or if we can provide further information or tips for getting started, feel free to contact President Stacy Fowler, M.S., C.P.T. at 303-884-8883 or at proudcoach@earthlink.net.



Get Healthy Kentucky is a statewide wellness program for all residents of the commonwealth of Kentucky with a fundamental mission to provide the opportunity for all Kentuckians to make better choices to improve their health and overall wellness. Made possible through the leadership of Governor Ernie Fletcher and enacted by the Kentucky General Assembly in Spring 2006, Get Healthy Kentucky focuses an awareness and promotion campaign in three preventive areas: tobacco cessation, physical activity promotion and better nutrition.

Through the Get Healthy Kentucky website, information and valuable resources are made available to youth, teens, adults and seniors in each of the three areas. Additionally, resources are available to worksites interested in initiating their own worksite wellness programs. Get Healthy Kentucky also includes a Governor’s Challenge program in partnership with the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the President’s Challenge to encourage Kentuckians to get or stay physically active. Each individual who successfully completes a challenge is eligible to receive a recognition award from Get Healthy Kentucky. For more information visit the Get Healthy Kentucky website at http://www.gethealthy.ky.gov/.



Guard Fit Challenge is a national fitness program that motivates participants to get in shape, stay in shape, or shake up their current workout routines. Launched by the Army National Guard in 2009, this free program offers the resources participants need to challenge themselves to work out better and start seeing results.

Guard Fit Challenge resources include exercise and nutrition tips, videos demonstrating proper workout techniques, and interactive tools for measuring and tracking fitness progress. Developed around the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT), the program challenges participants to find out if they have the strength and endurance of a Citizen-Soldier and encourages them to achieve their fitness goals.

For coaches, physical education teachers, and athletic directors, Guard Fit Challenge is a new way to get high school students excited about fitness.

Take the challenge at www.guardfitchallenge.com.



Healthy Ohioans is a multi-year, statewide initiative under the direction of Governor Bob Taft and the Ohio Department of Health that encourages Ohioans to adopt healthier behaviors and lifestyles. The Small Steps, Big Strides tagline illustrates the concept that achieving a healthier lifestyle is within everyone's reach. By taking a series of small steps, we can each make big strides towards a healthier life.

Healthy Ohioans is working to lower the state's chronic disease rates by encouraging Ohioans to improve nutrition, increase physical activity and prevent or reduce tobacco use. Healthy Ohioans is focused on four fronts: with schools through the Buckeye Best Healthy Schools Awards program; with businesses through the Healthy Ohioans Business Council; with state employees through the State Agency Wellness Committee; and in communities through the Healthy Ohioans- Healthy Community Award program.

Also under the Healthy Ohioans umbrella is the Governor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness, Wellness and Sports. Each year, in recognition of National Employee Health and Fitness Day, the council sponsors a statewide fitness walk to encourage all Ohioans to walk at least one mile that day. Ohioans are also encouraged to join the President's Challenge by visiting the Ohio Governor's Challenge webpage, a portal page to the President's Challenge website. Information on the above initiatives can be found at www.healthyohioans.org.



Healthy Fontana was created to inform, educate and change the way people eat, exercise and live. Healthy Fontana encourages residents to make choices that will lead to a healthier lifestyle. The program is being offered by the City of Fontana, Community Services Department and various community businesses and local organizations.

Healthy Fontana is the brainchild of Acquanetta Warren, City Council Woman. Alarmed by the growing rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease, Ms. Warren wanted to do something within her community to challenge residents to get fit & active! With the Mayor and City’s council support, Ms. Warren begin to establish and create a campaign against youth “di-obesity”.

For more information please visit http://www.healthyfontana.org/.



HealthierUS Veterans is a joint project between the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) . The focus of HealthierUS Veterans is to encourage and educate veterans and their families about the health risks of obesity and diabetes, and to eat healthy, be active and get fit for life.

HealthierUS Veterans promotes the President's Challenge, a program that encourages all Americans to make being active part of their everyday lives. By focusing on veterans and their families, HealthierUS Veterans can reach nearly quarter of the U.S. population, about 70 million people.

For more information on this program please visit http://www.healthierusveterans.va.gov/.



The 4girls health website http://www.4girls.gov is designed to promote healthy, positive behaviors for girls between the ages of 10 and 16. This site provides girls reliable and useful information on the health issues they will face as they become young women, as well as, tips on handling relationships with family and friends, at school and at home.

4Girls Health recently formed a group for the President's Challenge, called 4Girls Challenge. This group was formed to encourage young women across the country to be more physically active. It is important for girls to be active since girls' rates of physical activity participation consistently lack behind boys. The President's Challenge has activity and fitness programs designed to help improve anyone's fitness level. For more information check out this media advisory (Word Document).



The National Initiative on Physical Fitness for Children and Youth with Disabilities (also called the “I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT!” Program) was launched in 2004 by the Secretary, Surgeon General, the Executive Director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and Director of the Office on Disability of the US Department of Health and Human Services. The Office on Disability created this Initiative on physical fitness to serve the more than 6 million children with disabilities. The Program is open to children with all types and severities of disabling conditions. Working through national, state and community organizations dedicated to services for individuals with disabilities, mentors are linked with children with disabilities in an organized six week program of increased physical activities and good nutritional practices. The Program works cooperatively with the PCPFS and has incorporated its award system. The I CAN DO IT, YOU CAN DO IT! Program closes the gaps in HealthierUS by including the participation of all children and youth with disabilities.

Margaret J. Giannini, MD, FAAP, Director
Office on Disability at HHS
202-205-1016
Margaret.Giannini@hhs.gov



Fitness and wellness are a universal challenge for any organization. For AAFES, it is part of the customer’s mission: a fit body, mind and soul to ensure top performance in the daily endeavor of protecting America’s freedoms at home and abroad. AAFES in collaboration with the Army and Air Force, the exchange service, DeCA and Morale, Welfare and Recreation operations, is launching a multiplicity of initiatives to promote healthy choices, fitness solutions and personal wellness information to both customers and associates. The Operation Be Fit program goal is to corporately project an integrated awareness campaign that promotes and encourages a healthy lifestyle and to develop a life-long emotional connection with customers.

AAFES encourages its customers and associates to engage in the President’s Challenge Presidential Active Lifestyle and Presidential Champions Awards programs listed on the Operation Be Fit website helping those who don’t know how to start, get started or those who are active become more active. For more information, visit www.aafes.com.




The City of Largo believes that being healthy and fit takes a lifelong commitment. For the last 4 years, the Largo Recreation, Parks, and Arts Department has instituted a Nutrition and Exercise policy for Summer Camp attendees that promotes healthy eating and 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Campers who continued to produce healthy habits were rewarded throughout the Summer with fitness based prizes. Adult fitness center members could take part in a variety of incentive based programs and earn t-shirts and prizes for their hard work.

In joining with the President's Challenge, the City of Largo will increase exercise and nutrition programming to all ages, which will help promote living healthier lifestyles. The We're in Step program and the Presidential Summer Slim Down will create incentives for children in Summer Camps as well as adult fitness members. All participants will be encouraged to become Champions of Fitness and earn the Active Lifestyle Award. Get out and play with Largo Recreation, Parks, and Arts!

www.playlargo.com



The MCM, organized by the United States Marine Corps, is the fourth largest marathon in the United States and seventh largest in the world. Hosted by nearly 2,500 US Marines and Sailors, the MCM annually welcomes participants from all 50 states and more than 50 countries. Since its inception in 1976, more than 300,000 military and civilian runners have participated in "The People's Marathon", a nickname earned for the run's status as the largest marathon not offering prize money. The event serves to spotlight the organizational skills of the United States Marine Corps, promote health and fitness and generate community goodwill.

For more information about the Marine Corps Marathon visit www.marinemarathon.com.



Developed in cooperation with NASA scientists and fitness professionals working directly with astronauts, the Fit Explorer Project is a physical and inquiry-based approach to human health and fitness on Earth and in space. Students in grades 3-5 will participate in physical activities modeled after the real-life physical requirements of humans traveling in space. Students will experience a simulated walk to their "base station", learn how to coordinate muscle movement like an astronaut on a space walk, practice post-mission improvements in balance, and other exciting mission based physical activities. Students will record their personal progress in a Mission Journal and earn points in the Fit Explorer Challenge by working with their crew members to progress through levels.

In the Fit Explorer Project, students will participate in structured, hands-on science activities. These hands-on explorations relate physical Earth-based needs to the requirements of exploring space and assist students in gaining an additional understanding of the science behind nutrition and physical fitness.

NASA’s Fit Explorer uses the excitement of exploration to challenge students to set physical fitness and research goals, practice physical fitness activities, and research proper nutrition, to enable each child to aspire to become our next generation of Fit Explorers!

Visit the NASA Fit Explorer Web site at www.nasa.gov/sts118 to find information on the challenge, along with related materials and resources for educators and informal audiences.



We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition) is a national public education outreach program designed to help children 8-13 years old stay at a healthy weight through improving food choices, increasing physical activity, and reducing screen time. We Can! is unique because it provides practical tips and materials to parents and families in home and community settings. The We Can! Web site is a one-stop resource for community groups, health care professionals, and parents and caregivers with information, fact sheets, and materials to either download or order including a community toolkit, parents brochure (in English and Spanish), poster, PSAs, and a wristband. The program is a collaboration of 4 Institutes of the National Institutes of Health (NIH): the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), and National Cancer Institute (NCI). Click here to learn more about We Can!



Working together with the President's Challenge, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle launched a free, easy-to-use program to motivate everyone in Wisconsin to get active. It's a program designed to help make fitness simple and fun - and in the process, make Wisconsin healthier. The Challenge is 30 minutes of activity a day for adults and 60 minutes a day for kids, five days a week for six weeks. From gardening to running, there are over 100 activities to choose from, so there's something for everyone-whether you are just getting started or staying active is already an integral part of your life. Visit http://www.wisconsinchallenge.org for more information or to register.



The 2005 White House Conference on Aging (WHCoA) is working with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) to promote physical activity/fitness and health across the lifespan before, during, and after the WHCoA. This conference will occur December 11 to 14, 2005 in Washington, DC. The PCPFS and the WHCoA invite all delegates who wish to sign up for the President's Challenge to visit http://www.presidentschallenge.com/ to join the Presidential Active Lifestyle Program (PALA) or the Presidential Champions Program. To receive the awards, participating WCHoA delegates will be required to bring a copy of the confirmation that you have completed to the 2005 WHCoA in Washington, DC. . A major goal of the 2005 WHCoA is to encourage healthy living for all, but especially for current and future generations of older Americans. Please join us on a journey toward healthy living!




The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports teamed up to challenge the federal workforce to get active.

The HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge, launched by former HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and OPM Director Kay Coles James in October 2004, encouraged federal employees to engage in regular moderate physical activity and to log their activity on the President's Challenge Web site. More than 30,000 Federal employees registered for this program. In addition, the HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge served as a model for employers nationwide on how they can promote healthy lifestyles and active living to employees. For more information on the Challenge, visit www.healthierfeds.gov.



DC Healthy Families (DCHF) launched Fit For A Lifetime; an initiative that focuses on health awareness and disease prevention by promoting nutrition and physical activity, as well as the need for regular check-ups and the importance of health insurance. It includes several key interventions that target youth, specifically adolescents, with the goal of assisting this population in making smart choices about what they eat and drink and their physical activity. DCHF currently works with the DC Public Schools System to bring nutrition education into selected middle and junior high schools. Additionally, all students were encouraged to participate in the President's Challenge Presidential Active Lifestyle Award program. Students will be awarded their patches and certificates in year two at an awards ceremony. DCHF will work with the President's Challenge to showcase various components of the program, including fun competitions for the entire family.



The Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the U. S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) challenged the three largest cities in its region (Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.) to participate in a program supporting the Department's "Steps to a Healthier US" initiative. By working with community partners from the private and public sectors, each city challenged their communities to develop positive lifestyle behaviors. The Mayor's Office of Health and Fitness in Philadelphia was instrumental in providing guidance and expertise in developing a "Health Trip" Passport for participants from the three cities to aid in tracking progress. Participants who achieved the required number of "frequent mover miles" in their passport were eligible for the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award from the President's Challenge. These three cities challenged their communities to undertake the 12-week HealthTrip program, and they have sponsored at least one special event a month promoting the Steps to a Healthier US initiative.