Youth grants available to fight obesity Submitted Article Tuesday January 30, 2007
Youth as Resources, a program of United Way of Central Indiana, has grants available for youth with FitCity-inspired service projects. A total of $20,000 is available for youth in Boone, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Marion and Morgan counties.
FitCity educates residents in central Indiana about obesity and its problems and encourages people to move more and eat less. It is a collaboration between The Health Foundation of Greater Indianapolis, United Way of Central Indiana, Connect2Help and more than 100 program partners from across Central Indiana.
"Young people have to be part of the solution to childhood obesity, because their lives are at stake," said Paula Shepley, director of Youth as Resources. "Youth as Resources' FitCity Youth Campaign is rallying youth to the cause. They are helping their peers and younger children take health and fitness seriously."
Nonprofits such as churches, schools or community agencies that sponsor youth projects may apply for funds to cover project expenses. Groups of youth are encouraged to apply for grants for projects that educate and support their peers in stopping trends of excessive weight gain, as well as losing excess weight, adopting healthy eating habits and lifestyles, and becoming as fit as they can be.
All youth groups interested in applying for a grant must attend the workshop from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 24 at United Way of Central Indiana, 3901 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis.
For more information, please contact Morgan County coordinator Diana Roy, (765) 349-9780 or
Diana.roy@uwci.org.
Obesity in Indiana