Northeast Iowa Receives $149,000 to Combat Childhood Obesity

Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative has received $149,000 from the Wellmark Foundation to combat childhood obesity.  The two year grant will be used to implement school health programs in Allamakee, Chickasaw, Clayton, Howard, Fayette and Winneshiek counties.

The funds will be used to supports school wellness teams as they focus on policy and practice changes that encourage healthy eating and active living for children and adolescents.   The grant will also create a regional media campaign to educate youth, their parents, other caregivers, and key school personnel about the benefits of healthy eating and active living and the importance of the environments where children learn, live and play.  

The NE Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative (FFI) is one of nine national W.K. Kellogg Foundation Food and Community Program sites.  With the funding from the Wellmark Foundation, over 15,000 K-12 students, their parents and caregivers and key school personnel in 20 school districts will be reached with health messages.
 
The Wellmark Foundation funded 13 grants in Iowa totaling $1,149,721 through its 2010 funding awards targeted at childhood obesity prevention and community-based wellness and prevention.  
 
The Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque serves as fiscal administrator of the grant.   More information about the NE IA Food & Fitness Initiative is available at www.iowafoodandfitness.org.