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Highmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation Program expands in Southwestern Pennsylvania

PITTSBURGH (Aug. 20, 2007)

Nationally recognized program helps fight childhood obesity; recruiting new program sites

The Highmark Foundation's Highmark Healthy High 5 SPARK Active Recreation program is currently recruiting new program sites throughout the Southwestern Pennsylvania region. SPARK (Sports Play and Active Recreation for Kids) is a nationally recognized physical activity program designed to provide children with an inclusive, non-competitive recreation experience regardless of their ability, size or gender. Organizations interested in becoming a SPARK site are encouraged to visit www.paSPARK.org or call 1-800-652-9420 by August 31.

All program components are provided by Highmark Healthy High 5 at no cost to qualifying organizations. Site recreation leaders receive lesson plans (in an easy-to-use binder), hands-on professional training during a two-day workshop, ongoing site support and equipment vouchers based on need assessments.

To qualify as a SPARK site organizations must:

• Have an existing after-school and/or summer camp program for children.
• Have an indoor or outdoor recreational area to accommodate activities.
• Agree to offer a minimum 60 minutes per week of SPARK Active Recreation sessions for participants. May include three 20-minute sessions, four 15-minute energizers, or any other format totaling 60 minutes per week.
• Have at least 20 children between the ages of 5 and 14 enrolled in your program and participating each week.

"Less than 25 percent of school-age children get even 20 minutes of rigorous daily physical activity, well below the minimum of 60 minutes prescribed by researchers," said Kweilin Nassar, Highmark Healthy High 5 project director. "By engaging our schools and communities in SPARK, together we can reverse the current trend and create lifelong healthy habits in children.

The next SPARK training workshop will be held on September 20, 2007 at the Penn Hills YMCA, 11817 Frankstown Road, in Pittsburgh, Pa. Space is limited and interested organizations are encouraged to call 1-800-652-9420 or visit www.paSPARK.org and click on "Become a SPARK site" by August 31.

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