(ORLANDO, FL) – The ANNIKA Foundation has received a $100,000 grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation (BCBSF Foundation).
The Promising Practices grant will fund the implementation of SPARK – the leading physical education program for children – in twenty Orange County elementary schools beginning with the 2012-2013 school year.
“Implementing SPARK in every elementary school in Central Florida is one of my Foundation’s major initiatives,” said Hall of Fame professional golfer Annika Sorenstam, who founded the ANNIKA Foundation in 2008 to promote healthy, active lifestyles for children. “We are very excited to have the BCBSF Foundation support us with a wonderful grant to help combat the childhood obesity epidemic – which threatens the well-being of our children’s lives – so we can teach kids the importance of physical activity and proper nutrition with SPARK.”
Through its Embrace a Healthy Florida childhood obesity initiative, the BCBSF Foundation is addressing the causes of childhood obesity through community engagement in six communities across Florida and through grants to support promising practices and applied research.
“National statistics indicate that childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years. This troubling trend is documented in Florida, too,” said Susan B. Towler, vice president, BCBSF Foundation. “We are excited to partner with Annika and her Foundation to eliminate this widespread threat to children, families, communities and the health care system.”
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 including SPARK, Florida Hospital for Children and The First Tee. The Foundation annually conducts three major golf events for aspiring junior girls – the ANNIKA Invitational at Reunion Resort in Orlando, Fla., the award-winning American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) event for 72 of the top juniors from around the world; the ANNIKA Invitational at Mission Hills, the first all-girls junior tournament in China for top Asian juniors; and the ANNIKA Cup, a team event for the top juniors in Sweden. The Foundation is a financial supporter of Healthy 100 Kids, awards SPARK grants for schools, and has endowed a $100,000 ACE Grant to help underprivileged juniors compete on the AJGA. Other key Foundation initiatives include ANNIKA Junior Day and the ANNIKA Inspiration Award. More information about the ANNIKA Foundation can be found at www.AnnikaFoundation.org.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation is a separate, philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) incorporated in the state of Florida. The BCBSF Foundation, and its parent, BCBSF, are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information on the BCBSF Foundation, please visit its Web site at www.bluefoundationfl.com or for more information on the childhood obesity initiative, visit www.embraceahealthyfl.org.
Contact:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
704.519.8381 (cell)
ssharp@buffalocommunications.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
Stephen Reynolds
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3509
sreynolds@buffalocommunications.com
