FIRST LADY MAUREEN MCDONNELL PRESENTS DUPONT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WITH HEALTHY PLAYGROUND MAKEOVER
May 4, 2012
Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation, Discovery Education, Playworld Systems and Sports Authority to Award School a New Playground and $30,000 Worth of Sporting Equipment
May 4, 2012 (Hopewell, VA) - Today, the First Lady of Virginia, Mrs. Maureen McDonnell, visited Dupont Elementary School to present them with the Grand Prize in the Healthy Playground Makeover Sweepstakes, which includes a brand new playground from Playworld Systems and $30,000 worth of sporting equipment from Sports Authority. The sweepstakes is part of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF) and Discovery Education’s Energy Balance 101, an online destination that provides free energy balance curriculum to teachers, parents, administrators and school nurses.
“It is my great pleasure to award Dupont Elementary with a new playground and sporting equipment on behalf of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation and Discovery Education,” said Mrs. McDonnell. “Virginia is committed to fighting childhood obesity, and so I am delighted to see these two organizations provide such value to schools. Health and wellness has always been a key component of my First Lady's Initiatives Team Effort (FLITE).”
Martha Staples, a K-2 teacher at Dupont Elementary, had the winning entry for Title 1 Schools out of a total entry pool of over 129,000. “We are beyond excited about being a grand prize winner,” said Ms. Staples. “A new playground has been number one on our wish list for many years.”
“Along with our partners, Discovery Education, Sports Authority and Playworld Systems, we are thrilled to award Mrs. Staples and the students at Dupont Elementary with the grand prize,” said Lisa Gable, HWCF President. “We are committed to providing schools with the resources they need to teach students the importance of energy balance.”
“Discovery Education is pleased to provide Dupont Elementary School with the tools they need to engage and educate students on important issues like energy balance that extend beyond classroom instruction,” said Mary Rollins, Discovery Education vice president. “We believe that this sweepstakes, along with the Energy Balance 101 program, will help the school, its students and their families take important strides in achieving a healthy lifestyle.”
Also in attendance at the award ceremony were Hopewell Mayor Christina Luman-Bailey, Del. Riley Ingram, Superintendent of Schools Dr. John A. Fahey and State Senator Henry Marsh.
About Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation
The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation brings together over 200 retailers, food and beverage manufacturers, restaurants, sporting goods and insurance companies, a professional sports organization, NGOs, trade associations, and the U.S. Army aimed at doing their part to help families reduce obesity, especially childhood obesity.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education transforms classrooms, empowers teachers and captivates students by providing high quality, dynamic, digital content for grades K-12 and community colleges. Powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world, Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital media, professional development, assessment tools and a passionate educator network to support districts in accelerating student achievement. Discovery Education services like Discovery Education streaming, Discovery Education Techbook and Discovery Education Higher Ed, are in more than half of all US schools and 35 countries around the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.
About Playworld Systems
For over 40 years, Playworld Systems has been a leader in creating imaginative, customized commercial playground and fitness equipment that positively impacts the health and well-being of communities around the globe. Based on the belief that The World Needs Play®, Playworld Systems brings the joy and benefits of healthful outdoor play and exercise to people of every age and ability through such innovative product lines as PlayDesigns®, PlaySimple®, Playworld®, Origins™, NEOS®, ENERGI®, and LifeTrail®.
About Sports Authority
Sports Authority is staffed with experts in all areas of sports and fitness related topics, and strives to be the ultimate "authority," both on and off the field. Whether in the game or cheering from the sidelines, Sports Authority is the leading destination for consumers to fulfill their own sports equipment needs, as well as find their favorite team's apparel. Sports Authority operates 468 stores in 45 states, and employs more than 15,000 associates nationwide. It also operates stores in Japan under a partnership with AEON Co., Ltd. The company's e-commerce website is located at www.sportsauthority.com.
Contact: Emily Cullum
202-295-2316
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