Funding for quality, daily physical education is too important an issue to leave to letter-writing campaigns or
meetings with Representatives back home. To emphasize the importance of daily physical education, P.E.4LIFE, the physical education advocacy group, backed by other sponsors and supporters, will again take its message to
Congress during the 4th annual National P.E. Day®, May 4-5 on Capitol Hill.

Professional athletes more accustomed to sweat suits and jerseys, will don business attire to show their support for PE and the role it plays in reversing obesity in American youth. Accompanied by local educators and sporting goods manufacturers and retailers, they will meet one-on-one with Representatives to score increased support in 2005 for the Carol M. White Physical Education for
Progress (PEP) grant program. Now in its fourth year, this competitive grant program will provide $70 million in FY2004 funds to local educational agencies and community-based organizations to help cover the cost of initiating,
expanding and improving physical education programs.

But professional athletes aren’t the only group joining P.E.4LIFE to promote physical education. Members of the food and beverage industry, hospital executives, health and fitness professionals, and others committed to improving children’s health will all be on hand throughout the two-day event to help promote quality, daily P.E. as an effective and inexpensive solution to the many
looming health issues threatening today’s youth.

The National P.E. Day® schedule includes:

  • P.E.4LIFE Summit on Childhood Obesity, Tuesday, May 4, 8 a.m.- 3 p.m. – School officials and community stakeholders will come together to develop solutions
    for childhood obesity based upon strengthening physical education in their local schools. Location: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave., N.W.

  • P.E.4LIFE Welcome Reception, Tuesday, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – A prime networking opportunity as P.E.4LIFE honors the “Heroes of the Movement,” and announces the winner of the P.E.4LIFE “My Favorite P.E. Teacher” award. Location:
    Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.

  • Congressional PEP Rally Briefing Session, Wednesday, May 5, 7:30 a.m.- 9:30 a.m. – PEP Grant winners will explain how they are making a real difference in their communities. The event will also honor the P.E.4LIFE “Legislators of the Year.” Location: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill.

  • Congressional PEP Rally, sponsored by SGMA International, Wednesday, May 5, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. – National P.E. Day® gets down to business as educators and sporting goods manufacturers meet with their Congressional delegations to discuss the importance of getting all children healthy and active, plus the growth of the PEP Grant program. Location: various Congressional office buildings.

National P.E. Day® will also feature the official launch of the 4-year old organization’s new logo with slanted letters to emphasize motion and movement. It includes a round ball to emphasize sports and fitness and uses a tag line: “Active Body – Active Mind” to communicate that children do better in school when they are physically fit and active.

“A recent Duke University study concludes that obesity is the worst health problem facing U.S. children, causing them to score lower in measurements of overall health than children in 1975,” says Anne Flannery, president and CEO of P.E.4LIFE. “National P.E. Day could very well be the two most important days of the year for those passionate about the health and well-being of the nation’s
youth.”

For more information: Sheryl Stanley, 816 472 7345, www.pe4life.org.

Registration deadline for the Summit is Apr. 27.