Saucony Awards Run For Good Grants

As children head back to school, they are facing one of the most important challenges of their lives: adopting a healthy lifestyle that will provide the foundation for a healthy future.

At a time when childhood obesity is on an alarming rise, and funding for physical education programs is on the decline, Saucony, Inc. announced the first of a series of Saucony Run For Good Program grant winners.

The Saucony Run For Good Foundation, created earlier this year, will give kids across the country a running start to a lifetime of good health through community-based programs that support youth-oriented running and fitness activities.

The benefits of running not only provide better health, but research also shows that running helps children get better grades and even manage stress. “As a company by and for runners, we are excited to be able to help these youth-based organizations who so closely identify with our passion,” said Tom Carleo, senior vice president of product for Saucony. “We know we cant solve this childhood epidemic on our own, but we hope that these grants will make a difference for the program recipients and the kids that they serve.”

From GirlsCAN!, a running club of 30 girls in Cincinnati, Ohio to a new Marathon Kids initiative in Los Angeles serving 25,000 children, the following winners will maximize the use of running to promote healthy lifestyles in children.

    Peachtree Running Club, Peachtree, Georgia
          A before-school running program made up of 13 elementary schools,
          prepares students to run the Peachtree City "Kid's Marathon Finish,"
          the last 1.2 miles of the Classic marathon.

    Kittering Classical Elementary, Long Beach, California
          A new "Run For Good" club featuring weekly runs at recess,
          motivational speakers, and a new health curriculum.

    Rustic Lane Joggers Club, Riverside, California
          A running club serving over 250 students started by a 3rd grade
          teacher frustrated because his students didnt have an available
          physical education class.

    Iowa Kidstrong, Des Moines, Iowa
          A non-competitive, year-round incentive program that motivates kids
          from 20 elementary schools to run, walk and cross-train, leading up
          to a "finale event."

    GirlsCAN!, Cincinnati, Ohio
          A pilot project that encourages young African-American girls from
          the heart of Cincinnati's urban core to share in running activities
          with their mothers, culminating in three 5K events annually.

    Think Detroit PAL, Detroit, Michigan
          A track and field program for inner-city youth, coached by the
          Detroit Police Department, offering children the chance to run in a
          safe and fun environment.

    Marathon Kids, Los Angeles, California
          Launch of an L.A.-based Marathon Kids initiative that encourages
          children and their families to build a love and habit of running,
          walking and making healthy food choices.

The Saucony Run For Good Grant program is just one part of the Saucony Run For Good Foundation. The Foundation’s other initiatives include fun runs at local specialty retail events and the Saucony 26 marathon program, now in its third year.