Multiple studies have shown that active, healthy kids are better positioned to succeed in school. Yet only six US states require physical education in every grade, and only 20% of school districts require daily recess.
In 2013, Lets Move! Active Schools (LMAS) formed as a national collaborative of health, education, and private sector organizations committed to using the collective impact model to help schools provide students with 60 minutes of physical activity before, during, and after the school day.
LMAS engaged Nike as a strategic philanthropic partner, which resulted in a contribution of $50 million to the effort. Nike is the worlds largest retailer of athletic footwear and apparel and has aligned its philanthropic efforts to promote and protect the role of sport in society. Nike understands we have the power to use our voice and our brand to fight for universal youth access to sport and to advocate for global action on climate change to protect playing fields around the world.
Read more about how Lets Move! Active Schools and other communities can engage the private sector through strategic philanthropy and scale their impact on community health in our report, “Beyond the Four Walls: Why Community is Critical to Workforce Health.” Visit www.thevitalityinstitute.org/communityhealth for additional case studies of businesses going beyond the four walls.
Is your school an active school? How do you share best practices with other schools in the network? Join the conversation about going #beyond4walls by tweeting at us @VitalityInst or commenting below.
Photo Credit: Promotional Group
