Nemours Receives YSA, UnitedHealth Group ‘Heroes’ Grant

Nemours and their Florida Prevention Initiative’s childhood obesity prevention and health promotion program, Healthy Habits for Life, were awarded a $1,000 UnitedHealth HEROES Grant from YSA (Youth Service America) and UnitedHealth Group. UnitedHealth HEROES grants support youth-led service-learning initiatives addressing childhood obesity and healthy lifestyles.

One of 282 grants awarded nationwide, Universityof Central Floridagraduate students and Nemours interns, Shana Runnels and Jennifer Reed’s project Healthy Habits for Life: Pass It On is a project that promotes healthy eating and physical activity withFernCreekElementary School second grade students to fight childhood obesity.  The students will then “pass it on” and teach back what they have learned to their siblings, parents and peers—an effective teaching and learning strategy that supports student learning, academic achievement, and workplace readiness. 

“These grants were extremely competitive and, Healthy Habits for Life: Pass It On, exemplifies service-learning and the UnitedHealth HEROES program,” said Steve Culbertson, President and CEO of YSA. “Young people inOrlando want to make a difference, and UnitedHealth Group, in conjunction with YSA, offers them resources to make a positive, measurable impact on their community.”

“We are excited to have this opportunity to apply service-learning in trying to prevent childhood obesity,” said Dr. Lloyd Werk, director of Nemours Florida Prevention Initiative. “It has been wonderful working together with UCF’s social work graduate students to develop this project and we look forward to implementing it with the educators and students at Fern Creek.”

In its 24^th year, Global Youth Service Day (GYSD) engages millions of young people via partnerships with schools and community and faith-based organizations. Projects and events will occur in more than 100 countries and all 50 states, and will address the most challenging local, national and global issues facing the world including health, literacy, childhood hunger and the environment. 

“We believe that children are uniquely positioned to come up with creative ideas to help their peers in the fight against obesity and to encourage healthier living,” said Kate Rubin, UnitedHealth Group vice president of Social Responsibility.

“With UnitedHealth HEROES, we are helping young people take action to improve their overall health and quality of life in a way that’s not only educational, but beneficial for their entire community.”

“UnitedHealth HEROES is part of UnitedHealth Group’s overall commitment to help stem the rising tide of obesity, and related chronic health conditions like diabetes,” said Rubin.

For more information about Healthy Habits for Life: Pass It On, visit www.Nemours.org.  For more information about Youth Service America and Global Youth Service Day, visit www.YSA.org.

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