by Rosa Ramirez, Go for the Gold Campaign Manager
On August 17, HSC celebrated with more than 250 guests the launch of the Go for the Gold Campaign. Attendees included Audrey Rowe, USDA Deputy Administrator for Special Nutrition Projects, who visited Chicago to learn about the city’s initiatives in response to First Lady Michelle Obama’s call to reverse childhood obesity in a generation. Rowe, who was appointed to her post by President Obama, said that from her perspective, “Chicago is a national model.” This simple praise marks a real milestone in our work for school wellness and is a testament to the community’s and CPS’s journey to make schools healthier places.
The Go for the Gold campaign, a partnership between Chicago Public Schools, HSC, and the USDA Midwest, forms a crucial part of that journey, helping CPS schools meet the high standards for food, fitness and nutrition education set by the USDA’s HealthierUS School Challenge.
It was exciting to see so many people at the launch event express their commitment to support schools in this goal: students from the Mikva Challenge Teen Health Council committed to urging their classmates and high school principals to welcome health-promoting changes while Mary Richardson-Lowry, president of the CPS board of education, voiced a top-level commitment to healthy change.
Terry Mazany, CEO of the Chicago Community Trust and Karen Atwood, President of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, will lead a civic and business advisory committee dedicated to engaging even more leaders from across the city in supporting schools as they work to meet this challenge.
With the excitement of this launch and the strong, diverse group it brought together, I am excited for the school year to begin so even more schools can benefit from the strength of this community support. I am confident that Go for the Gold will bring about changes for the health and well-being for our kids.
Stay posted for updates!
Very exciting. I'm happy for all the kids in Chicago who will have healthier life. It's enough to make you want to move!
Posted by: Mendy Heaps | August 26, 2010 at 10:41 PM