Congressman Rick Berg tours TNT Kid’s Fitness!
Fargo, ND, Tuesday, June 28, Congressman Berg toured TNT to learn about the impact of the federal award on behalf of 2010 Carol M. White Grant from the Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools that TNT received in October 2010.
Congressman Berg commended TNT for their efforts in improving and keeping children active in their after school programming as well as TNT’s other programs. Berg mentioned that TNT is a fantastic example of how public and private partnerships should work.
Kim Pladson, Executive Director highlighted the first year of the federal grant!
The vision of the SOAR (Students Of all Abilities) is to enrich the lives of children and to reduce childhood obesity with physical activity no matter what their abilities are.
TNT received the Carol M White PEP grant October 1, 2010. We started to work immediately! This federal grant focuses on implementing 60 minutes of physical activity and nutrition every day in the afterschool program at TNT. Our grant partner Fargo Youth Commission (YC) has 6 sites where TNT trains the YC staff to incorporate 6o minutes of physical activity and more than $140,000 has been used to purchase equipment in all of these sites. Another partner to the grant is Sanford Health. Kristen Leibl a licensed dietician, designed the nutrition curriculum and supervises dietetic interns that go out to the sites weekly. These interns are from NDSU and Concordia.
In just six short months, TNT and the YC has incorporated a wellness policy that aligns with the local school districts. TNT has included other organizations to join by offering them the opportunity to include a wellness policy into their organization. Year one data is reporting 27% of our children enrolled in the SOAR afterschool program are active 60 minutes or more and eat more fruits and vegetables. 30% of our parents that were surveyed report their kids are staying active! As we celebrate the success of year one we hope to make an even larger impact in year 2 starting in the fall.
TNT is a highly regarded organization where the focus and mission of programming promotes the benefits of physical activity by showing kids how to enjoy physical activity and encourage kids to participate in any activity they enjoy. The goal is to educate and engage all children in various physical activities and healthy nutritional choices that will promote a lifelong healthy lifestyle.
TNT Kid’s Fitness reports federal dollars impact S.O.A.R. afterschool program addresses the nationwide childhood obesity epidemic by incorporating 60 minutes of physical activity and nutrition education into existing after school programs.
volunteers are committed to helping children to reach full potential through utilization of exercise or the sport of gymnastics to encourage expanded opportunities.