The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Schools invented new, heart-pounding games like "wall soccer." They found out which nutritious foods kids actually like and will eat—and then changed the cafeteria menu.
Little improvements like these, by students and staff, add up to steady progress in the effort to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic.
Now, the Alliance intends to build upon the creative, initial efforts of the 230 schools currently receiving hands-on guidance. With a $20 million expansion grant by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the Alliance will extend the reach of Healthy Schools in states with the highest obesity rates. This is the second major funding commitment for the program from RWJF, which last year awarded $8 million to launch the program.
The list of states that will benefit from the expansion includes: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee and West Virginia.