For Immediate Release:  October 3, 2011

 

Two Brevard Schools Receive Grants to get Kids Moving

The only schools in Florida to earn this award

 

VIERA, FLORIDA – ING (http://www.orangelaces.com/) announced Fairglen Elementary School (Cocoa, Florida) and Hans Christian Andersen Elementary School (Rockledge, Florida) as two of 50 recipients from 24 states across the United States to receive an up to $2,500 grant to inspire students to be more active and adopt healthy choices to carry into adulthood. In its second year, the ING Run For Something Better® School Awards Program (http://www.orangelaces.com/site/index/get_your_school_involved), presented by financial services leader ING in partnership with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE http://www.aahperd.org/Naspe/), is helping to introduce kindergarten through eighth-grade students across the country to the benefits of running and active lifestyles through school-based running programs. Fairglen and Hans Christian Andersen are the only schools in Florida to receive this grant for 2011. 

As award recipients, Fairglen and Hans Christian Andersen will be given up to $2,500 in funding to support a minimum of an eight-week running program that will conclude with a culminating running event in celebration of the students' achievements.   The schools will receive $1,000 immediately, with additional funds granted based on the participation in the program.  Schools can download unique running lesson plans developed by NASPE and based on the National Standards for Physical Education (NASPE, 2004) to serve as the foundation of the running program or to supplement an existing school program. Other program materials, such as sample eight-week training plans, distance logs, a running journal and access to a free timing system will aid in the development of running skills and preparation for a culminating running event. 

"ING is pleased to provide grants to schools across the nation to help them engage students in healthy lifestyles changes, personal development, goal-setting and group participation," said Rhonda Mims (http://www.ing-usa.com/us/aboutING/Newsroom/managementbios/rhondamims/index.htm), president of the ING Foundation and senior vice president, ING's Office of Corporate Responsibility. "Understanding the connection between student achievement and physical well being, we are committed to making it easier for educators to empower their students to achieve a better future. ING Run For Something Better allows us to make a positive impact on educators and their students."

Grant awards were available in all states and the District of Columbia to elementary or middle schools for running programs that targeted kindergarten- through eighth-grade students. Over 300 schools applied for the 2011 ING Run For Something Better School Awards Program. A NASPE review board consisting of 190 teachers and education administrators reviewed all applications.

In 2010, the ING Run For Something Better School Awards Program awarded 60 grants to schools in 27 states providing 4,117 students the opportunity to discover running as a fun and easy way to increase physical activity and learn how to make healthy lifestyles choices. Students participating in the program ran a total of 123,580 miles – that's almost 41 times across the United States!

"NASPE is thrilled to see real, positive, tangible results in the student's health over the first two years of this exciting program," explains NASPE Executive Director, Charlene Burgeson.  "Participating schools showed an average of 31.2% increase in aerobic cardiovascular endurance in students from the start to the conclusion of these running programs, double from the prior year.  NASPE is proud to be part of an effort that is making real changes in the lives of our nation's youth, giving them the opportunities and tools needed to build a foundation for healthy and active lives."

To learn more about the impact of this program and how to get your school involved, including downloading program materials, visit http://www.naspeinfo.org/run.