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YMCAs Team Up With Leading Corporations to Host the Nation's Largest Health Day for Children

Posted on: Thursday, 15 March 2007, 18:00 CDT

CHICAGO, March 15 /PRNewswire/ -- On Saturday, April 14, 2007, an estimated 500,000 children and families will visit more than 1,500 YMCAs nationwide for the 16th Annual YMCA Healthy Kids Day -- the nation's largest health day for children. This special event uses fun, engaging and creative activities to encourage children and families to develop healthy habits and "Put Play In Your Day." YMCA Healthy Kids Day is part of YMCA Activate America(TM), a nationwide initiative designed to help children and adults adopt and sustain a healthy lifestyle.

"We are grateful for our partners' generous support of YMCA Healthy Kids Day," said Neil Nicoll, president and CEO of YMCA of the USA. "The need is as strong today as ever before. Families are under increased stress, and they struggle to balance work, family and health. More physical activity through play helps children better manage stress, succeed in school, build energy and, most of all, learn skills that encourage a lifetime of activity."

Leading national companies dedicated to improving the health and wellness of American kids and families are joining with YMCAs across the country to host YMCA Healthy Kids Day events. Corporate supporters include Disney Channel, Kellogg Company, Kimberly-Clark Corporation and PepsiCo's Tropicana brand.

National health organizations also are supporting YMCA Healthy Kids Day, including the American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Heart Association, American Public Health Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors.

YMCA Healthy Kids Day activities vary by YMCA and may include exercise demonstrations, art projects, bounce houses, sports, dancing, relay races, health screenings and more. Also available at each event will be a free calendar for parents with tips about raising safe and healthy kids. A list of participating YMCAs is available at http://www.ymca.net/ .

About YMCA of the USA

YMCA of the USA is the national resource office for the nation's 2,617 YMCAs, which serve more than 20.2 million people each year, including 9.5 million children, uniting men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels. From urban areas to small towns, YMCAs are collectively the nation's largest nonprofit provider of child care and afterschool programs in nearly 10,000 diverse communities and neighborhoods across the U.S. A place for people to belong, YMCAs have proudly served America's communities for more than 150 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all. Visit http://www.ymca.net/ to find your local YMCA.

About YMCA Healthy Kids Day Sponsors

For more information about Disney Channel visit http://corporate.disney.go.com/ . Disney Channel is a 24-hour kid-driven, family inclusive television network that taps into the world of kids and families through original series and movies. Currently available on basic cable in over 89 million U.S. homes and to millions of other viewers on 25 Disney Channels around the world, Disney Channel is part of the Disney-ABC Television Group.

For more information about Kellogg Company visit http://www.kelloggcompany.com/ . With 2006 sales of almost $11 billion, Kellogg Company is the world's leading producer of cereal and a leading producer of convenience foods, including cookies, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, fruit snacks, frozen waffles, and veggie foods. The company's brands include Kellogg's, Keebler, Pop-Tarts, Eggo, Cheez-It, Nutri-Grain, Special K, Rice Krispies, Murray, Austin, Morningstar Farms, Famous Amos, Carr's, Plantation, Ready Crust and Kashi. Kellogg products are manufactured in 17 countries and marketed in more than 180 countries around the world.

For more information about Kimberly-Clark and to learn more about the company's 135-year history of innovation, visit http://www.kimberly-clark.com/ . Kimberly-Clark and its well-known global brands are an indispensable part of life for people in more than 150 countries. Every day, 1.3 billion people - nearly a quarter of the world's population - trust Kimberly-Clark brands and the solutions they provide to enhance their health, hygiene and well- being. With brands such as Kleenex, Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds the No. 1 or No. 2 share position in more than 80 countries.

For more information about Tropicana, visit http://www.smartspot.com/ . Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice is among the 250 PepsiCo products that carry the Smart Spot(tm) symbol -- a designation that makes it easier for consumers to identify PepsiCo products that can contribute to healthier lifestyles. Products that feature the Smart Spot(tm) symbol meet established nutrition criteria based on authoritative statements from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the National Academy of Sciences.

YMCA of the USA

CONTACT: Lynn Harmon, +1-314-605-1145, lynnharmon@sbcglobal.net , orLeah Cunningham Pouw, +1-312-419-8325, leah.pouw@ymca.net , both of YMCA ofthe USA

Web site: http://www.ymca.net/http://corporate.disney.go.com/http://www.kelloggcompany.com/http://www.kimberly-clark.com/http://www.smartspot.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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