City of Dallas, Oncor Launch Mayor’s Youth Fitness Initiative

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert today announced the formation of the Mayor’s Youth Fitness Initiative – a public-private partnership designed to create, cultivate funding and develop programs to address the issues the city’s children face. Dallas’ 42 Recreation Centers, previously facing severe budget cuts and reduced hours, will be the cornerstone to the Mayor’s program.

“The Mayor’s Youth Fitness Initiative will have a broad range of programs available, with the common goal of teaching kids how to be healthy and how to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, but doing it in a fun way for the kids”

To provide seed money for the Initiative, Oncor has committed $1 million to the Parks Foundation, which will also help ensure that the Recreation Centers remain open and as the primary outposts for the programs to come. The Mayor said with this first contribution, he is confident other corporate donors will step forward with additional donations and resources to participate in the Mayor’s Youth Fitness Initiative.

“The Mayor’s Youth Fitness Initiative will have a broad range of programs available, with the common goal of teaching kids how to be healthy and how to enjoy a healthy lifestyle, but doing it in a fun way for the kids,” said Mayor Leppert. “This is the kind of public-private partnership that makes this a great city to live and work.”

The Mayor also asked Oncor’s Chairman and CEO Bob Shapard to be a part of the leadership team as more city leaders, health experts and celebrity athletes are added to this team to develop the programs and ensure its success.

“The door for program ideas is wide open and just waiting for the leadership team to shape, with the backing of strong corporate citizens like Oncor,” said Mayor Leppert.

Oncor is teaming with the city and Mayor Leppert to come up with long-term programs that will help the youth of Dallas live a healthier lifestyle. The initiative will utilize the cities recreation centers to educate and engage kids in living a healthy life. Oncor’s commitment is a big step toward keeping all of the recreation programs running despite recent budget shortfall. But, it is just the first step in a long-term initiative that Oncor and Mayor Leppert are committed to supporting and leading.

“Oncor is proud to be able to help the City of Dallas and all the youth that depend on and enjoy these recreation centers,” Oncor Chairman and CEO Bob Shapard said. “But this is just the beginning in our partnership with the City. Whether it's big steps like the donation we’re making today or small steps like employee volunteers passing out water at events, Oncor is committed to finding ways to help the Mayor’s new Youth Fitness Initiative.”

Oncor is also developing a program that will create hike-and-bike trails along parts of the transmission right-of-way. This will be integral to helping improve the communities that Oncor serves. These trails can be a valuable contribution to the communities and the Mayor’s Youth Fitness Initiative and its programs.

“As Bob and I shared our visions for the Mayor’s Youth Fitness Initiative, it was clear we shared the same vision for success. And we’re firmly committed to making it the kind of successful program that will benefit the city’s kids and the recreation centers for decades to come,” Mayor Leppert said.

More information on all of these exciting programs will be available in the coming months.

Oncor is a regulated electricity distribution and transmission business that uses superior asset management skills to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, delivering power to more than 3 million homes and businesses and operating more than 117,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas. While Oncor is owned by a limited number of investors (including majority owner, EFH), Oncor is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of a majority of independent directors