Baptist Health awards Project Fit America program to Hendron-Lone Oak Elementary School
Hendron-Lone Oak Elementary kicked off Project Fit America, a fitness program aimed at reducing childhood obesity, during a recent celebration.
Hendron-Lone Oak Elementary kicked off Project Fit America, a fitness program aimed at reducing childhood obesity, during a celebration on Friday.
Baptist Health Paducah invested $16,000 for the fitness program. The school has received indoor and outdoor fitness equipment, teacher training and curriculum materials.
Hendron-Lone Oak brings to 12 the total number of schools to receive Project Fit grants from Baptist Health Paducah. Paducah’s McNabb Elementary and Graves County’s Central Elementary were awarded the program in 2007; Lone Oak Elementary, 2009; Concord Elementary, 2011; Clark Elementary, 2012; Benton Elementary, 2013; Calvert City Elementary and East Calloway Elementary, 2014; Morgan Elementary, Heath Elementary and Reidland Intermediate, 2015.
“Hendron-Lone Oak has a culture and academic rigor that has brought our school from a ranking of 234 out of 713 schools in the state in 2014 to an astounding 9th ranking in 2015,” Principal Jon Reid said. “We have prioritized student's health and wellness with equal endeavor to change the culture of our school. This grant will be the cornerstone of our physical education curriculum and the catalyst to support the community and family outreach efforts as well as for the promotion of healthy lifestyles.”
William A. Brown, Baptist Health Paducah president and West Region executive, said the program exemplifies the hospital’s focus on health, especially in today’s culture when obesity and its related conditions, such as diabetes, are among the area’s greatest health risks.
“Since 1953, Baptist has built a foundation for good health in our community,” Brown said. “Today Baptist Health reiterates that dedication to community education and disease prevention with the expansion of Project Fit America to our 12th school to help another community of children, staff and families build good lifelong habits for healthy lifestyles.”