RALEIGH- Be Active North Carolina is pleased to announce that a $10,000 grant from the Hurricanes Kid N’ Community Foundation will be used to execute its Just Push Play program at Lowe’s Grove Middle School in Durham.

Just Push Play is a whole-school, whole-child intervention designed to get school communities physically active, and to promote healthy, active lifestyles as the “norm,” not the exception.

Be Active North Carolina and the Hurricanes Kids ‘N Community Foundation are dedicated to enhancing the lives of youth in North Carolina.“We are thrilled to partner with the Hurricanes and the Kids ‘N Community Foundation on getting youth in our schools physically active through Just Push Play,” says Ben Blankenship, president of Be Active North Carolina. “The impact of these efforts will be a healthier, more productive North Carolina.” Obesity is the most common chronic disease among children. Nationally, 25 million children and youth are obese or overweight. North Carolina has the 5th highest rate of overweight children in the nation; more than 25% of its children are considered overweight or obese.Through Just Push Play, Be Active North Carolina will target all members of the Lowe’s Grove Middle School community including faculty, parents, students and extended families, creating an infrastructure and environmental change that will be sustainable for years to come.

Be Active North Carolina has identified Lowe’s Grove Middle School as a school in great need of its programs. It is a school with students who are at risk for overweight and obesity issues.Each Just Push Play school chosen receives an individualized suite of tools to facilitate and promote physical activity based on the needs of the school and its teachers. School staffs are trained by Be Active North Carolina experts in the use of all the tools. The results are in. Learning is enhanced when preceded by exercise. Physical activity is a proven method to maintain a healthy weight AND it generates cognitive and academic stepping stones for youth.

Physical activity can actually improve the learning and emotional and physical well-being of students, improving focus and reducing anxiety. About Hurricanes Kids ‘N Community FoundationAs “The Heart of the Carolina Hurricanes,” the Kids ‘N Community Foundation offers programming assistance and financial funds to assist local area youth organizations. Since the establishment of the Foundation in 1997, over $7.5 million have been granted to organizations that focus on enhancing the lives of the youth in our community. With the ongoing support of Hurricanes players and corporate sponsors, the Kids ‘N Community Foundation funds many causes including scholarship programs, youth hockey, educational and literacy efforts, health programs, and the arts.About Be Active North Carolina, Inc.Be Active North Carolina, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing physical activity levels and promoting healthy lifestyles among all North Carolinians. Since 1991, the organization has worked to increase public awareness of the effects of physical inactivity, build grassroots advocacy and volunteerism, create model statewide programs, and advocate for policies that reduce barriers and create opportunities for physical activity. Located just outside Research Triangle Park, it operates programs in each of the state’s 100 counties. To learn more about Be Active North Carolina and its programs please visit www.beactivenc.org or contact Jodi Hubble, Director of Strategic Development at 919-287-7000.