The Coca-Cola Foundation Awards $100,000 to Encourage Alabama’s Youth to Be Active This Summer

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Coca-Cola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, has awarded grants totaling $100,000 to six nonprofit organizations in Alabama working to change the behavior of sedentary teens. Funding was granted in response to a pilot Request for Proposal (RFP) The Foundation issued in March 2009.

“This contribution offered by The Coca-Cola Foundation will go a long way to help empower Alabamians to live healthier, more active lifestyles. I want to thank Coca-Cola for its investment in Alabama. Together, we will not only fight the problem of obesity in this state - we will win.”

“Our goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of Alabama’s youth by addressing declining trends in physical activity,” said Ingrid Saunders Jones, chair of The Coca-Cola Foundation, which granted more than $82 million in 2008 to improve global communities relating to water stewardship, active healthy living, community recycling and education. “Our funding creates access to sustainable, innovative programs where teens will learn the benefits of exercise and nutrition.”

The Coca-Cola system, and its bottling partners, has a strong tradition of encouraging active lifestyles. In 2008, more than $7 million was awarded to programs that encouraged young people and adults to be more active. In March, The Foundation issued a competitive pilot RFP that asked Alabama-based 501(c) (3) organizations to submit proposals for summer physical activity and nutrition education programs targeting youth between the ages of 12 and 18. Nearly 100 organizations applied.

"Communities are at their best when businesses and local governments work together to solve problems,” said Alabama Governor Bob Riley. “This contribution offered by The Coca-Cola Foundation will go a long way to help empower Alabamians to live healthier, more active lifestyles. I want to thank Coca-Cola for its investment in Alabama. Together, we will not only fight the problem of obesity in this state - we will win."

“I commend The Coca-Cola Company for its substantial investments in worthy nonprofit organizations promoting healthy, active lifestyles in the state of Alabama,” said Congressman Artur Davis (D-Ala), who represents Alabama’s 7th congressional district, where several programs will be funded by The Foundation.

Recipient organizations were chosen by a selection committee that included representatives of the Coca-Cola system, and health and physical activity experts. Organizations receiving funding include:

• Auburn University, Hale County, AL, $15,000, for the Hale and Hearty in Hale County, which provides access to physical activity and nutritional education for 30 teens. The curriculum will be based on the National 4-H’s "Just Move" program and will include a variety of activities. A nutrition component will be instructed by the Alabama Cooperative Extension. To continue the program, all Hale County teachers will be instructed on the Just Move Alabama curriculum and encouraged to use the materials in their classrooms for at least 10 minutes every day throughout the school year.
• Girls, Inc. of Central Alabama, Birmingham, AL, $13,000 - for the Body By Me program, which aims to develop healthy eating habits and develop regular physical activity in teen girls, by focusing on 45 minutes of physical exercise and 30-minutes of nutrition education class twice weekly.
• Bama Kids, Inc., Camden County, AL, $24,000 - for the Summer Enrichment Through Sports program, which will serve 200 youth in the Black Belt region of Alabama by providing physical activity and nutrition lessons for three months.
• Jonathan Daniels Community Development Corporation of Selma, AL, $23,000 - for the My Body My Future HPLAY program, designed to increase physical activity, nutrition education awareness, and behavior change in 100 youth. Physical activities include yoga, aerobics, and basketball. The program also engages parents through commitment letters for a healthier lifestyle, accompanied by activity and nutrition logs to evaluate behavior changes and modification for the youth and their families.
• Montgomery YMCA, Montgomery, AL, $12,000 - for the High Action Workout for Kids, a fitness program for 20 sedentary youth that includes weight training, swimming programs, fitness classes, outdoor sports and nutritional education through free YMCA memberships. Participants will also receive a six-month YMCA family membership.
• University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, $13,000 - for the DANCE 4 Health, a six-week summer program for 50 African-American teens. Participants will receive ballroom dance instruction three times a week for six weeks. The program will also include health assessments, and nutrition classes that focus on understanding nutritional labels, and making healthy food choices.

“Obesity is a long-term and continuing problem facing Alabama,” said Denise Shirley, County Extension Coordinator, Hale County Alabama, which is working with Auburn University to implement the Hale and Hearty in Hale County program. “This funding will allow us to reach at risk children in Hale County and help to break the cycle of obesity.”

As a stipulation for funding, each organization must operate its program for a minimum of four weeks this summer. Each also has to provide clear, measurable results at the end of the program.

About The Coca-Cola Foundation

Encouraging healthy active lifestyles is one of The Coca-Cola Foundation’s global community investment priorities. Since its inception, The Coca-Cola Foundation has contributed nearly $300 million to help build sustainable communities worldwide through initiatives that are focused on water stewardship, active healthy living, community recycling, education, arts and culture and civic affairs. For more information, please go to http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/foundation_coke.html.