SIX CITIES SHARE $445,000 IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Partnership Invests in Promising Programs to Encourage Kids’ Healthy Weight & Lifestyle

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) announced the winners of the 2016 Childhood Obesity Prevention Awards during the organization’s 84th Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. The awards went to cities with outstanding programs that encourage healthy weight through balanced diet choices and regular physical activity. “The American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America is proud to partner with the U.S. Conference of Mayors to support efforts to reduce and prevent childhood obesity nationwide,” said Susan Neely, president of the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABFHA) Board of Directors and president and CEO of the American Beverage Association.

“The winning programs showcase the creativity and innovation of America’s mayors as well as their dedication to the health and wellness of their communities. This partnership exemplifies how working together can help drive meaningful results, while having a real impact in America’s hometowns.”

“Mayors are at the forefront of addressing the most significant issues in our communities – and no issue is more important than the health and welfare of our children,” said Tom Cochran, USCM CEO and executive director.

“From a public health, economic and community viability perspective, we’ve got to do everything we can to make sure our kids understand how to eat healthy and stay active.”

Six U.S. cities were recognized for their mayoral-based initiatives:

• Baltimore, MD
• Columbia, SC
• Everett, MA
• Fontana, CA
• New Orleans, LA
• Plainfield, NJ

The grant program is the result of a partnership between USCM and ABHFA, which was created and funded by America’s nonalcoholic beverage industry and is a reflection of the industry’s long-standing tradition of giving back to communities. This grant program is an example of another public-private partnership to support nutrition education for children, strengthen communities and empower consumers.

The grant awards are divided into small, medium and large city categories, with first place and second place awards given in each category. An independent panel of judges evaluated each application based on innovation, creativity, replicability and potential impact.

A brief description of each winning program appears below.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,200 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Find us at usmayors.org, on facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors.

The American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America (ABHFA) seeks to make a significant contribution to the health of local communities, by providing grants to support charitable programs at community organizations that work to advance both the physical health of their local citizens and the environmental health of their communities.