Active lifestyle companies Dick’s Sporting Goods and The North Face made commitments to the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA).
The commitments were made at the fifth annual Building a Healthier Future Summit convened by PHA, which works with its honorary chair First Lady Michelle Obama and the private sector to create solutions to end the childhood obesity crisis.
“We are honored to be joined by so many unique partners – combined totaling nearly 30 new commitments at this year’s summit – in our continued effort to help Americans live full, healthy lives,” said PHA CEO Lawrence A. Soler. “American families have shown us, time and again, that they want healthier choices. And in growing numbers, they are starting to take them when offered.
“We’re proud that PHA and its partners have been a major force in achieving the market shift – and we know there is more work to be done. We have much work ahead of us, and we will continue to keep driving toward our mission of ending the childhood obesity epidemic,” Soler said.
Dick’s Sporting Goods, Inc., one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the nation with 645 locations, and the Dick’s Sporting Good Foundation, are proud to join PHA in its effort to encourage healthy lifestyles and improve the wellbeing of today’s youth. Dick’s has committed to investing $25 million between 2015 and 2017 in organizations and activities that inspire and enable sports participation. The company and its foundation will expand its “Sports Matter” initiative to build awareness around the importance of youth sports and provide funding to youth athletics teams, both at schools and in partnership with community organizations. Dick’s will also contribute equipment and financial support to a wide range of youth sports teams, leagues, community organizations and events across the country.
The North Face, the world’s premier manufacturer of outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear with a mission to inspire a global movement of outdoor exploration, today announced its commitment to PHA to provide $500,000 in Explore Fund grants to nonprofit organizations in 2016 to connect youth and communities of all backgrounds to the outdoors in meaningful ways. The North Face Explore Fund grants provide access for youth, including those in underserved communities and those with disabilities, to participate in outdoor activities such as skiing, camping, hiking and climbing. The North Face hopes that these outdoor experiences will inspire young people to make positive healthy decisions every day.
