Aetna Foundation Teams with Junior Blind of America to Help Fight Childhood Obesity among Visually Impaired Children in Los A...
February 23 2012 - 12:31PM
Business Wire
Junior Blind of America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to
helping children and adults who are blind, visually impaired or
multi-disabled achieve independence, today announced the
strengthening of its fight against childhood obesity among visually
impaired and low-income children. Many of the children the
organization serves live in South Los Angeles, where 28.9 percent
of all school-age children are obese--the highest childhood obesity
rate in Los Angeles County.
The Aetna Foundation will present Junior Blind with a $25,000
grant in support of its innovative After School Enrichment Program
on Thursday, February 23, 2012, during a Parents’ Night event at
Junior Blind’s South Los Angeles campus featuring guest speaker,
Olympic Gold Medalist Rafer Johnson.
Now in its fifth year, Junior Blind’s After School Enrichment
Program serves 75 visually impaired and sighted children, ages 8 to
13, each year. More than 90 percent are from low-income families
and from minority backgrounds.
“With the Aetna Foundation’s generous support, we are able to
provide our after-school healthy living program at no charge to
children who are at high risk of obesity,” says Miki Jordan,
president, Junior Blind of America. “Most blind and visually
impaired children have limited opportunities to participate in
sports and other physical activities and often trail their sighted
peers in fitness levels. When children are also from low-income
families, like the ones we serve, they face an even greater risk of
obesity and its related diseases. Investing in the health of our
community’s children will greatly improve their lives.”
The only program of its kind in Los Angeles, Junior Blind’s
After School Enrichment Program brings together blind or visually
impaired children and their sighted peers for a wide range of
healthy living activities at its campus on Angeles Vista Boulevard.
There, for at least an hour each day, the students take part in
sports and other physical activities at the organization’s
multi-sensory playground, specially adapted aquatics center, weight
room, bowling alley, rooftop track and football-size playing field.
The program also offers cooking classes, using adaptive cookware as
necessary, nutrition education and academic enrichment. The program
runs from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. each school day and all day during
the summer.
To engage the children’s entire family with the healthy living
lessons, the program also hosts a Parents’ Night twice a year to
educate parents on ways they can help their families lead healthier
lives.
Sharon Dalton, the Aetna Foundation’s vice president and
director of regional grant making, says that Junior Blind’s
comprehensive approach can have a lasting impact on the children in
its program.
“We know that daily physical activity and a diet rich in fruits
and vegetables can help young people maintain a healthy weight and
reduce their risk of diabetes and other obesity-related diseases,”
she said. “By combining fun lessons about healthful eating and a
wide range of physical activities and sports, Junior Blind is
helping kids, especially those with few opportunities to exercise,
adopt habits that can lead to a lifetime of good health.”
Additionally, employees at Aetna, the parent company of the
Aetna Foundation, often volunteer at the organization’s Junior
Blind Olympics, Camp Bloomfield and annual Halloween Carnival. In
2011, Aetna was a lead sponsor of the Junior Blind Olympics.
At the February 23 Parents’ Night, guest speaker Olympic Gold
Medalist Rafer Johnson is expected to springboard off his message
of health and fitness to challenge children and parents alike to
stay active by finding physical activities that they enjoy doing
together. The event will also feature guest speaker Rafael Garcia
from Providence Little Company of Mary.
About Junior Blind of America
Founded in 1953 as the Foundation for the Junior Blind, Junior
Blind of America remains an innovative leader in helping people of
all ages who are blind, visually impaired or multi-disabled achieve
independence. Each year, Junior Blind of America provides services
to thousands of individuals and their families through programs
that offer individualized methods of early-intervention therapy,
education, rehabilitation and recreation. These life-changing
programs are designed to empower infants, children, teens and
adults to reach their highest level of independence and
self-esteem. To learn more, please visit www.juniorblind.org.
About Aetna Foundation
The Aetna Foundation, Inc. is the independent charitable and
philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc. Since 1980, Aetna and the Aetna
Foundation have contributed $394 million in grants and
sponsorships, including $15.6 million in 2010. As a
national health foundation, we promote wellness, health, and
access to high-quality health care for everyone. This work
is enhanced by the time and commitment of Aetna
employees, who have volunteered more than 2.3 million
hours since 2003. Our current giving is focused
on addressing the rising rate of adult and childhood obesity
in the U.S.; promoting racial and ethnic equity in health and
health care; and advancing integrated health care. For more
information, visit www.AetnaFoundation.org.
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