DECATUR, Ind. (WFFT) – St. Joseph School in Decatur received a $2,500 grant to help students stay active during the school day.
The American Heart Association and the National Football League awarded the grant through the Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs. The funding is part of the NFL PLAY 60 initiative, which encourages children to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.
The school can use the grant to support health and wellness efforts, including active recess, physical activity equipment, flag football, recess improvements, inclusive physical education and other student well-being resources.
“Kids need chances to move during the school day, and right now, too many don’t get enough,” said Haley Rudolph, executive director for the American Heart Association in Indianapolis.
“These grants will help make it easier for students to be active throughout the school day,” Rudolph said. “More chances to move can make a real difference, helping kids feel better, focus in class and build healthy habits.”
About 1 in 5 children in the United States live with obesity, according to the American Heart Association. The association also says only about 1 in 5 children get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
The grant came from a $350,000 annual funding pool provided by the NFL through NFL PLAY 60. Another group of grant recipients is expected to be announced in June.