2011 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AWARD
Vegas PBS Keeping Kids Fit Community Advisory Council
Nominated by Lee Solonche
Director of Educational Media Services, Vegas PBS (Nevada)
Keeping Kids Fit is an innovative initiative and long term project of Vegas PBS to reduce the rate of childhood obesity in southern Nevada. The project focuses on educating low income families about nutrition and exercising. Special emphasis has been given to African-Americans and Latino/Hispanics who are statistically at highest risk of childhood obesity. The project promotes healthy lifestyles through multiple forms of technology and educational activities such as television broadcasts, locally produced learning kits, a Keeping Kids Fit website, and innovative online and workshop opportunities.
The Keeping Kids Fit Community Advisory Council has been instrumental in the success of this health initiative. Formed at the beginning of the project, the CAC is a diverse representation of prominent community members, including university professors, school district leaders, Hispanic broadcasters, nutritionists, and doctors. Overall, CAC members directly assisted KKF staff with expertise, specialized perspectives, data, fund raising, key contacts, technological resources, inclusion in grants, access to other community programs, and publicity.
The success of KKF is demonstrated by the over 32 thousand children experiencing hands-on instructional materials, distribution of more than six thousand exercise and nutrition kits, and reaching of millions of people through KKF broadcasts and online materials. KKF “Health Tip of the Day” has been integrated by PBS Parents on their national website. The project has also generated in excess of 500 thousand dollars in new revenue to Vegas PBS.
Vegas PBS Keeping Kids Fit Community Advisory Council
Nominated by Lee Solonche
Director of Educational Media Services, Vegas PBS (Nevada)
Keeping Kids Fit is an innovative initiative and long term project of Vegas PBS to reduce the rate of childhood obesity in southern Nevada. The project focuses on educating low income families about nutrition and exercising. Special emphasis has been given to African-Americans and Latino/Hispanics who are statistically at highest risk of childhood obesity. The project promotes healthy lifestyles through multiple forms of technology and educational activities such as television broadcasts, locally produced learning kits, a Keeping Kids Fit website, and innovative online and workshop opportunities.
The Keeping Kids Fit Community Advisory Council has been instrumental in the success of this health initiative. Formed at the beginning of the project, the CAC is a diverse representation of prominent community members, including university professors, school district leaders, Hispanic broadcasters, nutritionists, and doctors. Overall, CAC members directly assisted KKF staff with expertise, specialized perspectives, data, fund raising, key contacts, technological resources, inclusion in grants, access to other community programs, and publicity.
The success of KKF is demonstrated by the over 32 thousand children experiencing hands-on instructional materials, distribution of more than six thousand exercise and nutrition kits, and reaching of millions of people through KKF broadcasts and online materials. KKF “Health Tip of the Day” has been integrated by PBS Parents on their national website. The project has also generated in excess of 500 thousand dollars in new revenue to Vegas PBS.