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The Highmark Foundation announces 2007 Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge grant winners

PITTSBURGH (May 31, 2007)

Over $800,000 awarded to 172 schools to support programs that aid in obesity prevention

Approximately 25 million children and adolescents in the United States are overweight or obese. To provide schools more nutrition and physical activity offerings to help create lifelong healthy habits in children, the Highmark Foundation, through its Highmark Healthy High 5 School Challenge program has awarded more than $800,000 in grants to 172 schools in Pennsylvania.

In January 2007, the Highmark Foundation announced it would award $500,000 in grants and invited schools within its 49-county service region to submit proposals for programming to improve nutrition, education, nutrition services or increase opportunities for physical activity or education. After receiving more than 300 proposals, the Highmark Foundation board agreed to increase the level of commitment to more than $800,000 to help support the need of schools.

“The Highmark Foundation developed the Healthy High 5 School Challenge grant program to support schools in their efforts to introduce programs that will help to create healthier, more successful students,” said Yvonne Cook, president of the Highmark Foundation. “Studies illustrate that the health habits children develop at a young will continue with them into adulthood. Many schools lack the resources needed to implement much needed nutrition and physical activity programs.”

The schools that were awarded grants will use the funding for projects such as:

• Enhancing physical education by purchasing physical activity equipment
• Creating a biking program
• Supporting an “Eat Well for Life” program
• Constructing a climbing wall to improve physical activity
• Increasing healthy food choices in the cafeteria
• Opening a salad bar in the cafeteria

The School Challenge grant program is a component of Highmark Healthy High 5. Through Highmark Healthy High 5, the Highmark Foundation will improve the health and wellness of children by partnering with organizations, such as schools, to provide evidence-based programs that focus on the five key areas of the initiative.

About Highmark Healthy High 5
Highmark Healthy High 5 is a five-year, $100 million initiative of the Highmark Foundation aimed to reverse the current trends in children's health and to promote lifelong healthy habits in children throughout the 49 counties served by Highmark.

Highmark Healthy High 5 addresses five critical children's health issues, including nutrition, physical activity, self-esteem, grieving and bullying — through education, communications, volunteerism, grants and programming.

For more information, contact:
Kristin Ioannou
412-544-7643
kristin.ioannou@highmark.com

Kimberly Scanish
717-302-4244
kimberly.scanish@highmark.com