August 17, 2004

Local Sports Heroes Join United Way to Help Boston Kids Learn the Importance of Fitness and Nutrition

Sports stars from the Boston Red Sox, Boston Celtics, Boston Bruins and New England Revolution stress the connection between healthy habits and performance

Red Sox starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo (standing, left) leads a clinic on fundamental fielding skills during United Way's recent Athlete's Forum. Celtics basketball star Walter McCardy works on ball handling with a local youth during the forum. Over 200 kids participated in the Athlete's Forum, which stressed the importance of good diet and exercise for all children. Each of the participating youth walked out of the event with some healthy snacks, a few autographs from their favorite sports stars, and some important lessons about proper diet and exercise.

BOSTON -- United Way of Massachusetts Bay (UWMB) today hosted 200 Boston children for an Athletes Forum, a program featuring local athletes working directly with children from diverse neighborhoods to help them better understand the importance of staying fit and eating healthy. The Athletes Forum is part of a $1.6 million campaign launched by UWMB in February 2004 to promote nutrition and physical fitness resources for Boston-area children.

The Athletes Forum, run in collaboration with Northeastern University’s Center for the Study of Sport in Society, featured skills clinics run by sports stars such as starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo and the legendary Luis Tiant of the Boston Red Sox, Walter McCarty of the Boston Celtics, Joe-Max Moore of the New England Revolution and Boston Bruins Head Coach Mike Sullivan. Greg Dickerson and Gary Tanguay of Fox Sports Net New England served as the event’s Masters of Ceremonies and helped raffle off a mountain bike donated by Fox Sports Net.

In addition to the skills clinics, the participating youth (ages 10-14) had the opportunity to ask questions of the sports stars to learn more about the benefits of good nutrition and physical fitness. The pro-athletes stressed the importance of fueling their bodies with healthy food to improve their performance both on and off the field. All participants received a special tee-shirt donated by the Stop & Shop Supermarket Company, a personal pedometer from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, healthy snacks provided by Costa Foods and Clif Bars and special goodies from the various sports teams.

“United Way’s goal for its Nutrition Initiative is to empower youth with the knowledge and aspiration to live healthier lives,” stated Peg Sprague, vice president of Community Impact for UWMB. Sprague kicked-off the Athletes Forum by thanking the sports stars for their commitment to the community’s youth, evidenced by their participation in today’s clinic. In her remarks to the young audience, Ms. Sprague emphasized the importance of “eating well and staying fit in order to grow up healthy and strong like the athletes who are here coaching us today.”

Launched in February 2004, the $1.6 million United Way initiative focuses on generating awareness and providing information and tools that will help kids make positive nutritional and behavioral choices in order to reduce obesity rates and improve the health of children across the region.

Media inquires should contact:
Jeff Bellows
Phone: 617-624-8250
Fax: 617-624-9114
E-mail: jbellows@uwmb.org