Cartoon Network Launches Third Annual "Move It Movement" Tour To Help Solve the Problem of Childhood Obesity
17-Market Live Affiliate Summer Tour Presented in Partnership with President's Council on Fitness,
Sports & Nutrition and in Support of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! Initiative
Core Sponsor/Partners to Include Crayola, BGCA, NBA/WNBA FIT,
NFL PLAY 60 and The PGA of America
Cartoon Network announced today launch plans for its third annual MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR, a summer campaign targeting youth 6-14, in partnership with the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition and in support of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative. The 17-market tour will launch officially June 10 in Atlanta - on the heels of National Physical Fitness & Sports Month in May - and travel throughout the country to prime family locations in 17 key markets, sponsored by local cable affiliates. The tour will ultimately make its way back to the Midwest, concluding Aug. 12 in Houston.
Presented in a themed, exciting and fun outdoor environment, the MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR will feature multiple activity and learning stations, incorporating such additional core partner organizations as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), NBA/WNBA FIT & NBA Hoop Troop, NFL PLAY 60 and The PGA of America. Two all-new national PSAs - one featuring Michelle Obama discussing how kids can get further involved with Let's Move! and the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+) program - will premiere on Sunday, May 28, on Cartoon Network, CartoonNetwork.com, the partner's websites and Cartoon Network's Facebook page, which boasts more than eight million "friends." The second spot will highlight the upcoming 2012 tour overall, its components and online educational materials available at MoveItMovement.com. Joining Cartoon Network once again as an official sponsor of the 2012 tour is Crayola, which has been integrally involved with the MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR for three straight years.
"I'm proud to join Cartoon Network as we thank everyone who participated in our Presidential Active Lifestyle Award program," says First Lady Michelle Obama in the new PSA. "By finding the activities you love, and then getting up and getting active for an hour a day, you're showing the rest of us that being healthy isn't just good for you, it's fun, too."
"Cartoon Network is committed to utilize the power of our brand assets, unique resources and ongoing relationships to empower kids with relevant messages, one-of-a-kind experiences and impactful tools to live a more balanced and healthy lifestyle," said Stuart Snyder, president and COO of Cartoon Network. "This summer tour has become one of our favorite annual events as it provides us a great opportunity to interact with our core audience on a grassroots level. Kids tell us they love the activities, while parents say they truly appreciate our bringing this hands on event directly to their neighborhoods."
The MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR is part of Cartoon Network's long-established, award-winning pro-social efforts to provide support and encouragement in the ongoing battle against childhood obesity through such varied activities as daily recess, health & wellness education and active after-school involvement. The in-market traveling tour will be supported extensively by Cartoon Network and its participating cable affiliates. Top markets currently scheduled for the 2012 tour route include New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, Miami, Seattle, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver, Sacramento, Orlando, Pittsburgh and Indianapolis.
In an effort to sustain daily fitness and positive nutritional behavior, Cartoon Network is again working with the President's Council on Fitness, Sport & Nutrition to promote youth and family registration and participation - both in-school and at after-school facilities - in the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+). The MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR will spotlight the PALA+ program at its own activity station, and feature it among Cartoon Network's on-air and digital platforms. PALA+ is the next phase of PALA designed to motivate Americans to make physical activity and healthy eating part of their everyday life. The physical activity requirements for PALA+ remain the same: 60 minutes/day for kids, 30 minutes/day for adults, five days a week for six out of eight weeks. The new nutrition component requires participants to add a weekly healthy eating goal and build upon those goals throughout the same six-week period. Individuals who achieve the physical activity and healthy eating goals will receive a certificate signed by the Council Co-chairs Drew Brees and Dominique Dawes.
"Play is so important to our children that it is considered a right of every child by the United Nations," said Alice Cahn, vice president of social responsibility for Cartoon Network. "The MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR and our year-long healthy-lifestyle activities provide inspiration and physical stimulation crucial to children's health and happiness."
Families planning to visit and participate in the MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR can enjoy a host of activities:
· NBA/WNBA FIT & NBA Hoop Troop - kids can demonstrate their fitness level by testing their basketball skills and shoot against the clock for prizes;
· The PGA of America Driving Range - drive the ball for accuracy and distance with The PGA driving range! Top scores are posted on the PGA Sports Authority leaderboard;
· Crayola - featuring a day to night-themed activity area, where kids can exercise their imagination creating their own sidewalk masterpieces using Kaleidoscope 3-D Chalk (TM), 3-D Sidewalk Chalk(TM) and Sidewalk Tattoos(TM), with new night time products Outdoor Glow Sand Ball(TM) and Glow Chalk(TM) on display to encourage night time creations at home;
· NFL PLAY 60 - kids can practice a variety of football-themed activities, including running patterns and passing skills;
· Skate Park Challenge - BMX and skateboard experts perform high-flying demonstrations followed by interactive safety and riding tips sessions for kids;
· Soccer Shootout Challenge - kids can show off their footwork and take aim at a custom soccer goal;
· and the Let's Move!/PALA+ booth - a station set aside specifically for registration materials, nutrition tips and further information promoting participation with Let's Move! and the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award.
The tour also will feature a Cartoon Network Chill Zone, a themed area to refuel (water) and recharge while sampling some of the best new programming, online activities and premium items from Cartoon Network. The Chill Zone also offers a green screen photo activity and a Stop Bullying: Speak Up pledge station.
Further information about the MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR, including specific market locations, dates and times, can be found at www.MoveItMovement.com. Materials spotlighted at the dedicated site will include First Lady Michelle Obama's taped messages encouraging youngsters to participate with the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award and Let's Move! initiatives. Additional promotional marketing items will include event posters customizable for each stop along the tour, along with ad slicks, flyers, press information and web banner art.
About Crayola LLC
Crayola has provided children with colors to share all that inspires them since the first box of Crayola crayones were introduced in 1903. Whether it's providing tools to put a purple octopus on the moon, or enabling teachers to bring arts-infused learning into the classroom, Crayola is passionate about helping parents and educators raise creative and inspired children. For more information, visit the Crayola website and join the Crayola community on Facebook
About the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition (PCFSN)
PCFSN promotes healthy lifestyles through fitness, sports and nutrition programs and initiatives that educate, engage and empower all Americans. PCFSN is a committee of volunteer citizens appointed by the President who serve in an advisory capacity through the Secretary of Health and Human Services. For more information about PCFSN, visit www.fitness.gov. For more information about the President's Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program or the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award, visit www.presidentschallenge.org
About NFL PLAY 60
Designed to tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL's long-standing commitment to health and wellness with partner organizations. PLAY 60 also is implemented locally, as part of the NFL's in-school, after-school and team-based programs. Since the program was launched in 2007, the NFL has committed more than $250 million to youth health and fitness through programming, grants, and media time for public service announcements. The NFL and its teams have built more than 120 NFL Youth Fitness Zones, organized more than 1,500 PLAY 60 youth events, and integrated programs into more than 77,000 schools nationwide since the campaign launched. For more information, visit NFLRUSH.com/play60 About Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com) is the #1 U.S. television network among boys 6-11. Currently seen in 99 million U.S. homes and 168 countries around the world, Cartoon Network is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic entertainment for kids and families. In addition to Emmy-winning original programming and industry-leading digital apps and online games, Cartoon Network embraces key social issues affecting families with solution-oriented initiatives such as Stop Bullying: Speak Up and The Move-It Movement. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.
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