Secretary Mike Leavitt Joins NBA All-Star Gilbert Arenas to Announce Winners of National Obesity Prevention Video Contest

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt and NBA All-Star and Washington Wizards’ point guard Gilbert Arenas will join the Ad Council, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America to announce the winners of a national user-generated video contest created on behalf of HHS’ and the Ad Council’s Obesity Prevention public service campaign. Hosted on YouTube, the contest was developed to encourage teens and young adults ages 14-24 to submit original videos demonstrating the power of taking small steps to get healthy, including physical activity and good eating habits.

WHO:		U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt
		NBA All-Star and Washington Wizards' Point Guard Gilbert Arenas
		Washington Wizards' President of Business Operations & CFO Peter Biche
		Senior Vice President of the Ad Council Kate Emanuel
		Senior Vice President of Boys & Girls Clubs of America Government Relations Department Kevin McCartney
WHEN:		6:00 p.m.
		Wednesday, November 12
WHERE:		Verizon Center - Event Level
		601 F Street, NW
		Washington, DC 20004

The contest tipped off on September 10 and culminated on October 28. The top 10 most viewed entries were judged by a panel comprised of advertising professionals, health officials, BGCA representatives and the NBA’s Arenas. The grand prize winner will receive up to $2,500 in cash and prizes from NBAStore.com. Four runners-up will receive $500 gift cards. Judging has been based on creativity, entertainment value, and appropriateness to theme. Video entries can be viewed by visiting the contest page featured at www.smallstep.gov.

The contest is an extension of the NBA FIT Program (www.nba.com/fit), a league-wide, comprehensive health and wellness platform launched in February 2007 that encourages proper eating habits and promotes exercise to children and young adults. It is also part of the “Small Steps” Obesity Prevention Campaign, which was first launched by HHS and the Ad Council in 2004, and the contest is an initiative of the Coalition for Healthy Children (www.HealthyChildrenCoalition.org), which harnesses the combined strengths of marketers, media companies, non-profit groups and government agencies to combat childhood obesity.