Children
from Summit School in Nixa attended an assembly on Nov. 12 to learn
about staying heart healthy – in a kid-friendly way.
It
was the kickoff to a renewed partnership between CoxHealth and Kohl’s
Cares that aims to identify children at risk for obesity and heart
disease, and teach them and their families how to live a healthier
lifestyle.
Childhood
obesity has become an epidemic in the United States, and southwest
Missouri is not immune. Poor eating habits, improper nutrition and a
lack of exercise can lead to serious health problems as children grow.
With the $41,916 donation from Kohl’s Cares, CoxHealth is continuing the
Kohl’s CARDIAC Kids program, which will work to fight the childhood
obesity epidemic through a variety of fun events and health screenings
aimed at children ages 5 to 18 and their families.
Through the program, at-risk children and adolescents are identified and are able to learn more about living a healthy life.
“We
know childhood obesity is a widespread and dangerous problem. Thanks to
Kohl’s Cares, we’re able to make a real impact on the health of area
children, teaching them about exercise, nutrition and healthy choices in
a fun and engaging way,” said Lauren Holland, CoxHealth Health and
Wellness educator and Kohl’s CARDIAC Kids coordinator.
More
than 1,000 area children participated in CARDIAC Kids health screenings
during the past grant year. Through the screenings, 400 participating
children were found to be overweight or at risk for becoming overweight,
and 203 children were found to be at risk for high blood pressure.
These
children and their families received follow-up education, including
healthy, kid-friendly recipes, exercises and more. Year-to-year results
are tracked and analyzed for trends.
Since
2011, Kohl’s has donated more than $132,000 to CoxHealth to support the
CARDIAC Kids Program. Kohl's commitment to CoxHealth is made possible
through the Kohl's Cares cause merchandise program. Through this
initiative, Kohl’s sells $5 books and plush toys, with 100 percent of
net profit benefiting children’s health and education programs
nationwide, including hospital partnerships like this one. Kohl's has
raised more than $231 million through this merchandise program.
In
addition to the merchandise program, Kohl's Cares features the Kohl's
Cares Scholarship Program, which last year recognized more than 2,300
young volunteers with more than $400,000 in scholarships and prizes.
Through Kohl’s Associates in Action volunteer program, more than 669,000
associates have donated more than 2.2 million hours of their time since
2001, and Kohl’s has donated more than $63 million to youth-focused
nonprofit organizations. Kohl’s also offers fundraising gift cards for
schools and youth-serving organizations. For more information, visit www.Kohls.com/Cares.
Posts
