Teachers and students at Graves Central and McNabb elementary schools, along with Western Baptist Hospital staff, kicked off their Project Fit America programs earlier this month.

Staff and students at each school, along with WBH representatives, held ribbon-cutting ceremonies, featuring equipment demonstrations, cheerleading performances, group dance routines and motivational messages from school and community leaders.

Western Baptist Hospital pledged $30,000 to fund the national fitness program for two years at both schools. The schools were selected by Project Fit America, a non-profit, public charity that encourages exercise and fitness among the country’s youth. The program features teacher training and curriculum resource material, as well as indoor and outdoor exercise equipment.

Karen Kingins, Graves Central’s physical education teacher, said students and staff are excited about the program’s benefits. “You all know that I try to make our physical education classes upbeat and hand on,” said Kingins. “The new equipment is a great addition to our curriculum.”

McNabb Elementary School principal Kim Bryant said the program is needed to motivate and encourage students early so they can develop better lifestyle habits later in life.

“Att McNabb, we’re focused on being not only academically fit,” said Bryant, “but also physically fit. We’re grateful to Western Baptist for helping us fulfil this goal.”

Cardiologist Patrick Withrow, M.D., medical director of the new Baptist Heart Center, said educating the community, including children, on heart disease is an important goal of the heart center.

“Childhood obesity is on the rise, and Kentucky leads the nation in smoking,” said Dr. Withrow. “We need to intervene early to educate children and their caregivers.”

Get more information on children’s heart health, including exercise tips and heart-healthy recipes, at westernbaptist.com/heart.