Published:
Weight No More! The BET Foundation's Summer Camp for Girls is Back for its 4th Year!
WASHINGTON, July 17 /PRNewswire/ -- With obesity in young children rising
at alarming rates in our nation, the BET Foundation is back with its acclaimed
"Summer Camp For Girls" running from July 20-27, 2008. Sponsored by BET
Networks, General Mills, SUBWAY(R) Restaurants, and Wal-Mart Stores, the BET
Foundation's "Summer Camp For Girls" will take place at theAlabama 4-H Youth
Development Center campsite located inColumbiana, AL. This year's program
supporters include the University of Alabama-Birmingham, School of Social
Work, African-American Health Coalition ofHouston, TX, Nek Nak, Charles the
Chef, and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070716/BETNETWORKSLOGO )
The week-long camp was specifically designed as an effective approach to
help African-American girls and their parents identify and practice lifestyle
changes that will assist in achieving and maintaining a healthy body weight
and a positive self-image through health literacy, physical activity, healthy
lifestyle choices, proper nutrition, and self-appreciation. The program
components include: daily exercise & fitness activities; nutrition classes,
healthy cooking demonstrations for kids, Media Smart Youth; art therapy; group
counseling and self-esteem workshops; trust and confidence building exercises;
arts and crafts; talent and fashion shows; movie nights; and special celebrity
guest appearances. This year, Toccara Jones, Keri Hilson, Tiffany Evans,
Teyanna Taylor and Miss Black USA, Kristen White will be on hand to share
their experiences and encourage the young ladies to meet their goals of
achieving a healthy lifestyle. The camp will also feature special guest
nutritionist, Shirley Dolland from the Bell Institute for Health and
Nutrition, an extension of General Mills.
The BET Foundation created this special camp as an innovative weight
reduction and nutrition-based program for African-American girls ages 10 - 12
from low to moderate-income families. "The purpose is to provide young girls
with the vital information and tools necessary to aid them in making healthy
lifestyle choices, and to serve as a "health" advocate for their family and
peers," states Lynda Dorman, Executive Director and Vice President. The camp
curriculum will provide simple nutrition strategies; instill positive
leadership and decision-making skills; and provide a fun-filled, memorable
camp experience.
"General Mills is proud to extend its partnership with the BET
Foundation's Summer Camp For Girls. The camp aligns with our corporate
mission to 'Nourish Lives' and encourage consumers to lead healthier lives by
making small changes that yield big results," states Kimberley Bow Sunday,
Multicultural Marketing Manager.
One hundred and fifty young girls from various states includingWisconsin,
Maryland,Virginia,Florida,New York,Tennessee,Alabama,North Carolina,
Georgia,South Carolina,Illinois andPennsylvania were selected for this
wonderful, free of charge camp experience based on essays their
parent/guardians submit expressing why they should participate in the one-week
fitness program and how the experience will influence a healthier lifestyle.
This summer, 120 girls were chosen.
"SUBWAY(R) Restaurants are very excited to be partnering with the BET
Summer Camp for Girls," said Shannon Bowers, Brand Manager for the Subway
Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust. "Grass roots initiatives such as this truly
give the Subway brand a platform to support the African-American community as
more people are choosing healthy, active lifestyles."
ABOUT BET
BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc. (NYSE: VIA) (NYSE: VIA.B), is
the leading provider of media and entertainment for African Americans and
consumers of Black culture on a global basis. The primary BET cable network
reaches more than 84 million households and can be seen inthe United States,
Canada and theCaribbean. BET Digital Networks - BET J, BET Gospel, and BET
Hip-Hop -- are brands that combine to serve a broader and more diverse
audience than the core network. BET.com is the number one internet destination
for the target audiences. BET Mobile delivers music, gaming, and video content
to the target audiences on wireless devices across virtually all service
providers. BET Event Productions is a full-scale event management and
production company with festivals and live events spanning the globe. BET
International delivers BET content to the consumers of Black culture around
the world. BET Networks inspires its audiences to make a difference in their
lives and communities with a series of impactful pro- social initiatives under
the Touch BET umbrella.
ABOUT BET FOUNDATION
The BET Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to raise
public awareness to the numerous health-related challenges within African-
American communities. Established in 2003, the BET Foundation takes a
pioneering step in addressing the prevalence of obesity and related health
concerns among African-Americans. Through specifically-tailored initiatives
and targeted campaigns, the BET Foundation aims to insure that African
Americans live longer and healthier lives. The BET Foundation includes public
service announcements (PSAs); targeted programming segments; women's health
symposiums and forums; health brochure materials; a dedicated toll-free
hotline and website; and a nationwide Healthy BET Fitness Challenge contest to
provide the tools and knowledge necessary for communities to develop long
lasting healthy lifestyle habits. For more information, please visit
www.ahealthybet.com.
ABOUT GENERAL MILLS
General Mills(R), with annual net sales of $13.4 billion, is a leading
global manufacturer and marketer of consumer foods products based in
Minneapolis. General Mills' mission is Nourishing Lives - innovating to make
lives healthier, easier, and richer - while Nourishing Communities and
Nourishing the Future. Its global brand portfolio includes Cheerios, Betty
Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Old El Paso and
more. With more than 100 consumer brands and operations in more than 100
countries, General Mills is also a leading supplier of baking and other food
products to the foodservice and commercial baking industries.
SOURCE BET Networks
Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze,
Daily News
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