Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation Funds Childhood Obesity Pilot Program, Community Garden

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Rose Crews, Communications Associate
Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation
rosecrews@pottstownfoundation.org
610-323-2006 x21

POTTSTOWN AREA HEALTH & WELLNESS FOUNDATION

FUNDS CHILDHOOD OBESITY PILOT PROGRAM

AND COMMUNITY GARDEN

January 12, 2012, Pottstown, PA – The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation has awarded $1,153,085 to fund 39 grant requests during its fall 2011 grant round. In addition to the normal support provided to non-profit organizations, schools, and municipalities, the Foundation's funding will also be focusing on the fight against childhood obesity and a community garden.

According to Dave Kraybill, Executive Director, Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation, the "Healthy Weight, Healthy Families” pilot program is a family-centered childhood obesity intervention program in the Pottstown community. A grant of $175,000 has been awarded for this two-year, intensive treatment program, managed by Creative Health Services, Inc. A non-profit mental health provider, Creative Health Services will provide individualization and support to families committed to improving the health outcomes of their obese children, ages 8-12.

A community garden to be developed by the Mosaic Community Land Trust, is partially funded by the Foundation, according to Kraybill. Land donated by the Pottstown School District, plus donations of materials and services from local businesses and organizations will provide an opportunity for lower income residents without access to healthy foods, to grow their own affordable and fresh produce.

The following list of grant awards is based on redefined long-term goals that support the Foundation's mission of enhancing the health and wellness of area residents:

PRIORITY #1: Funding programs and solutions for long-term improvement in healthy behaviors. $124,750 awarded to support the following seven projects:

1. Boyertown Area Community Wellness Council – Operating Support
2. Centro Cultural Latino Unidos – Zumba Classes and Health & Wellness
3. Developmental Enterprises Corporation/Pottstown Training Center – Healthy Eating, Healthy Living
4. Freedom Valley YMCA, Spring Valley Branch – After Breast Cancer Program (Funded by East Auxiliary)
5. Greater Pottstown Tennis Association – National Junior Tennis & Learning Program at Pottstown School District
6. Maternity Care Coalition – Pottstown Early Head Start
7. Pottstown Family Center, Family Services of Montgomery County – Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (Partially funded by East Auxiliary)

PRIORITY #1A: Promoting healthy living through nutrition, activities and programs in public and private schools to reduce obesity and encourage healthy living. $148,313 awarded to support the following seven projects:

1. Brookeside Montessori – Outdoor Learning Environment and School Garden
2. Coventry Christian School – Opportunities for Under-privileged Children Program
3. Daniel Boone Area School District – Coordinated School Health Program
4. Falkner Swamp Nursery School, Inc. – Health and Wellness Programs
5. St. Aloysius School – Steps to a Healthier You – Fitness and Nutrition Program & Playground Construction
6. True to Life Ministries – Operation Backpack
7. West-Mont Christian Academy – Replacement of Gymnasium Floor

PRIORITY #1B: Improving parks, programming and the built environment to increase access to physical activity. $205,000 awarded to support the following eight projects:

1. Borough of Pottstown – The Greening of South Street
2. Borough of Pottstown – Heritage Action Plan Trail Connection
3. Boyertown Area YMCA – Daniel B. Boyer Skate Park
4. Delaware Riverkeeper Network – Pottstown Rivercast Feasibility Study
5. Delaware Valley Christian Camp – Camp Manatawny Rock Climbing Wall
6. Limerick Township – Manderach Memorial Playground ADA Upgrades
7. Preservation Pottstown – Mosaic Community Garden
8. Schuylkill River Greenway Association – Bike Pottstown

PRIORITY #1C: Creating and promoting social networks involving healthy living. $43,000 awarded to support the following project:

1. Pottstown Area Seniors' Center – Prime Time Health

PRIORITY #2: Funding programs for physical health and emotional well-being. $529,053 awarded to support the following 11 projects:

1. Camphill Village Kimberton Hills – Aging in Community (Funded by East Auxiliary)
2. Chester County 4-H – After School Programs at Park-Springs Apartments in Spring City
3. Child Advocacy Center of Montgomery County–Mission Kids – Victim/Family Advocate Program
4. Child, Home & Community, Inc. – Pottstown Adolescent Prenatal, Parenting and Support Continuum (Funded by East Auxiliary)
5. Community Health and Dental Care, Inc. – Operational Improvements & Growth
6. Creative Health Services – Collaborative Family & Childhood Obesity Program
7. Family Services of Montgomery County – Project Hearth (Helping Elderly Adults Remain in Their Homes)
8. Maternal and Child Health Consortium of Chester County – Healthy Start Program in Spring City
9. Montgomery County Community College – Dental Sealant Day
10. Spring-Ford Counseling Services – Emotional Health Workshop for 8^th Graders in Spring Ford School District
11. Visiting Nurse Association Community Services, Inc. – Personal Navigator Program

PRIORITY #3: Funding learning opportunities and strategic planning to strengthen non-profits. $102,969 awarded to support the following five projects:

1. KenCrest Centers – Restroom Renovation and Personal Hygiene Project (Funded by East Auxiliary)
2. Montgomery County Community College – Service Learning to Build the Capacity of Community-Based Nonprofit Organizations
3. Pottstown Area Police Athletic League – Strengthen Nonprofit & Complete Phase I Sports Complex
4. Pottstown Area Seniors' Center – Save Our Collaboration
5. Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities – Operating Support to Implement Capacity Building Plan

About the Foundation: The Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation's mission is to enhance the health and wellness of area residents, providing education, funding and programs that motivate people to adopt healthy lifestyles. Visit http://www.pottstownfoundation.org/ for more information about the Foundation. Discover Pottstown area's online community at www.missionhealthyliving.org to learn and share great information on how to lead a healthier life! You can also follow Mission Healthy Living on Facebook and Twitter.

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