The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and Gov. Nathan Deal's SHAPE
Initiative are pleased to announce that 21 schools have received a total of
$87,000 in Georgia SHAPE school grants. The schools include elementary,
middle and high schools throughout the state.
Twelve schools received up to $5,000 each to implement or improve physical
activity and nutrition plans. Those plans are determined by health-related
school assessments that prioritize the schools' needs. The money will also
be used for training and technical assistance. Nine schools received up to
$3,000 each to develop physical activity and nutrition plans.
Research has shown that children are much more physically active if they
attend schools that schedule, promote and supervise opportunities such as
structured recess, short classroom-based activity breaks and before and
after-school activities. Georgia currently ranks third in the nation for
overweight and obese children.
"These grants will go a long way toward improving childhood fitness and
nutrition," said Brenda Fitzgerald, M.D., commissioner of the Georgia
Department of Public Health. "We must teach our children the importance of
physical activity and the lifelong benefits of healthy eating, lessons they
hopefully will carry with them throughout their lives."
Congratulations to the schools selected as Georgia SHAPE Grant Recipients:
Implementation Grants
