Orlando, Fla. (May 12, 2011) – Hall of Fame golfer Annika Sorenstam and the ANNIKA Foundation have partnered with the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation – a 160-member organization committed to reducing obesity – especially in children – to help launch their national campaign called the Together Counts™ that encourages families to eat meals together and engage in physical activities together to help counter obesity and promote good health. The ANNIKA Foundation has taken a leadership role in this new initiative because both organizations’ missions align so closely. The ANNIKA Foundation teaches children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition.
“Eating meals and being active with my family are two of my favorite things,” said Annika, selected to be one of the key national spokespersons for this campaign. “Our family has taken the Together Counts pledge and I hope to encourage other families to share this important time together and see great results.”
The program gives families the tools to track their progress and compare them with the results in their communities and across America, offering rewards and incentives to provide positive reinforcement. The Together Counts website (www.togethercounts.com) will provide families with tips and advice that fuel participation, and a mobile app will give participants access to log and track their progress anywhere.
The Together Counts campaign is aimed at encouraging energy balance between calories consumed and calories expended – a fundamental underpinning of efforts to reduce obesity. The Together Counts program advances the goal of energy balance by drawing on the strength of families to eat together and to spend more time in physical activities together
About the ANNIKA Foundation
The ANNIKA Foundation teaches children the importance of living a healthy, active lifestyle through fitness and nutrition, and offers aspiring junior golfers opportunities to pursue their dreams. The Foundation has partnered with several key organizations to promote healthy and active lifestyles for children, including SPARK, the leading physical education program for schools; Florida Hospital for Children, supporting its Healthy 100 Kids initiative; and The First Tee, developing the Nine Healthy Habits curriculum for children. The Foundation annually conducts three major golf events for aspiring junior girls, including the ANNIKA Invitational at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla., the award-winning American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event; the ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills in China for top Asian juniors; and the ANNIKA Cup, a team event for the top juniors in Sweden. The Foundation awards SPARK grants to schools, is a financial supporter of Healthy 100 Kids, and has endowed an ACE scholarship with the AJGA. Other key Foundation initiatives include ANNIKA Junior Day, the ANNIKA Inspiration Award and scholarships for aspiring Swedish juniors. More information about the ANNIKA Foundation can be found at www.annikafoundation.org.
About the The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation
The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation brings together 160 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, restaurants, sporting goods and insurance companies, two professional sports organizations, non-governmental organizations, trade associations, and the U.S. Army aimed at doing their part to help families reduce obesity, especially childhood obesity.
Contact:
Elizabeth McCollum
Brener Zwikel & Associates
813-421-0550
elizabethm@bzapr.com
