- Obesity Program To Target At Risk Children - ST. LOUIS, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare announced today that it has awarded a $33,000 grant to Youth InterACTIVE to support its ACTIVE Life initiative. The ACTIVE Life initiative is designed to educate and empower Texas youth and their families to effectively manage their physical activity, nutritional intake and fitness. Youth InterACTIVE is a non-profit, youth social marketing organization based in Austin, TX. The ACTIVE Life initiative delivers fun-filled health and fitness programs, events and media to youth on school campuses and community centers. The initiative is designed to instill an appreciation for healthy, active living while increasing fitness and health and combating obesity and diabetes. Participating students are empowered to take control of their own health by setting personal goals and recording their activities. Students are likewise encouraged to become healthy change agents in their families by promoting the ACTIVE Life lifestyle to their parents and siblings. "Childhood obesity is a serious national issue with many accompanying health and social consequences," said Kathy Bradley-Wells, President, Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare. "Prevention programs for children, such as those provided by Youth InterACTIVE, are an important part of controlling the obesity epidemic by encouraging physical activity and good nutrition. With millions of children or adolescents at risk, the Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare is pleased to support this key initiative to address childhood obesity." "Youth InterACTIVE is very excited about the opportunity to continue our important work in Texas with the Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare," said Baker Harrell, Founder/Executive Director, Youth InterACTIVE. "Through the support of committed organizations like the Centene Foundation, Youth InterACTIVE will provide our award-winning ACTIVE Life initiative free of charge to more than 30,000 Texas students and families this school year. Nearly one-third of America's youth are overweight or obese and the trend continues to exponentially worsen. This modern generation is the 1st in 100 years to have a lower projected life expectancy than their parents. Combating the youth obesity epidemic must become a central priority for America's corporations and government if America is to remain a global leader. I applaud Centene and the Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare for serving as corporate stewards in this critical fight." About Youth InterACTIVE Youth InterACTIVE is a non-profit, youth social marketing organization based in Austin, TX, that inspires and empowers youth to drive positive trends in health, education and civic participation. Youth InterACTIVE works with national leaders and institutions to develop and manage cost-effective, scalable and sustainable solutions which utilize new media, existing infrastructure and the untapped power of youth as agents of positive social change. Youth InterACTIVE believes an ACTIVE lifestyle is one that values health and fitness, lifelong learning and civic participation. Youth InterACTIVE works to inspire and empower youth to adopt and promote ACTIVE living to their peers, families, and communities. For additional information, please visit http://www.youthinteractive.org/. About The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare is a non-profit private foundation dedicated to improving the quality of healthcare in the United States. The Foundation serves as a resource to identify and support innovative approaches to improving and increasing the quality of and access to healthcare for low-income individuals and families. This is accomplished through an inspired philanthropic giving plan that seeks to promote efforts and activities that identify and address core causes of unequal access and treatment in healthcare. For additional information, please visit http://www.centenefoundation.org/. DATASOURCE: The Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare CONTACT: Robert J. Schenk, Vice President, Corporate Marketing and Communications of Centene Corporation, +1-314-725-4477 Web site: http://www.centenefoundation.org/ http://www.youthinteractive.org/

Copyright