Concord Elementary receives hospital-sponsored Project Fit grant
Patrick Withrow, M.D., Western Baptist Hospital’s chief medical officer, presents Concord Elementary School Principal Ginger Hollowell, (center), with a grant from the hospital to launch Project Fit America, a fitness program aimed at reducing childhood obesity. Also pictured are Concord PTO President Mary Buchanan (left); Molly Goodman, public relations director at McCracken County Schools; Bonnie Schrock, Western Baptist vice president of patient services; Concord physical education teacher Rae Ann Ragland; and Concord guidance counselor Susan Kolb.
With a grant from Western Baptist Hospital, Concord Elementary School this fall will launch Project Fit America, a fitness program aimed at reducing childhood obesity.
Concord is the fourth area school to win the $16,000 grant from Western Baptist for indoor and outdoor fitness equipment, teacher training and physical education curriculum support materials to schools. Paducah’s McNabb Elementary and Graves County’s Central Elementary were awarded the program in 2007, while Lone Oak Elementary received it in 2009.
The outdoor equipment behind the school will be free and open, so the community may use it to get in shape.
Cardiologist Patrick Withrow, M.D., vice president and chief medical officer at Western Baptist, said educating the community, including children, on cardiovascular disease and its risk factors is the hospital’s goal.
“Childhood obesity is on the rise, and Kentucky leads the nation in smoking,” said Dr. Withrow. “We are seeing hypertension and diabetes more in younger children, so we need to intervene early to educate children and their caregivers.”
Dr. Withrow said the elementary fitness program provides the perfect vehicle for exercise and nutrition education for children and their families.
McCracken County Superintendent Nancy Waldrop said the partnership with Western Baptist and Project Fit America is a wonderful opportunity for Concord Elementary students and families.
“In McCracken County Public Schools, we focus on success for the whole child – success that includes the health and wellness of every child, in every school,” Dr. Waldrop said.
Principal Ginger Hollowell said the school is excited to partner with Western Baptist and Project Fit America.
“This grant will give us another early intervention tool that we can utilize to educate children, parents and teachers about being healthy and happy,” she said.
Physical education teacher Rae Ann Ragland said many children are not getting an adequate amount of exercise.
“We, at Concord Elementary, are big advocates of physical activity and promote it on a daily basis,” Ragland said. “As a physical educator, I want to instill my passion for fitness into my program by using new and creative ways to keep my students motivated to exercise. Project Fit is going to be one of the ways to help keep our students healthy and active.”
Project Fit America (PFA) is a national nonprofit charity that provides exemplary cardiovascular health and fitness programming to schools. Its mission is to create new opportunities for kids to be active, fit and healthy by providing vital resources and support for physical education one schoolyard at a time. For more information, visit http://www.projectfitamerica.org.