LAILA ALI JOINS TEEN NOT-­FOR-­PROFIT DOSOMETHING.ORG TO LAUNCH ‘HEALTHY SCHOOLS CHALLENGE’

Download release LAILA ALI JOINS TEEN NOT-­FOR-­PROFIT DOSOMETHING.ORG TO LAUNCH ‘HEALTHY SCHOOLS CHALLENGE' Campaign to Award Scholarships to Top Students for Implementing Innovative Ideas to Make Their Schools and Communities Healthier New York, NY(October 4, 2010)— Nearly 1 in 3 young Americans is overweight or obses, but int he words of First Lady Michelle Obama, "We need to quit quoting statistics and get going!" Parents,teachers, and administrators aren't the only ones who can make an impact in schools. DoSomething.org announces today a national campaign to combat this growing issue through the teens and students themselves, empowering them to make their schools and communities healthier. The “Healthy Schools Challenge” asks teens to find innovative ways to make changes in their schools and submit their plans throughout the month of October. Through the fall, students will execute their plans to make their schools healthier. Top efforts will be rewarded with up to five individual S1,000 scholarships. DoSomething.org teams with World Champion athlete and health advocate, Laila Ali, who encourages teens in a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) to take charge of a nation-­‐wide movement to create healthier food options and more fitness activities in schools. “From a very young age, I've learned the importance of exercise and giving your body the fuel it needs to stay strong," explains Laila Ali. "I am excited to be part of a campaign encouraging kids to take control of their own future by tackling this issue where it starts, in our nation's schools." Teens are encouraged to find creative ways to enact healthy change in their schools, such as campaigning to kick processed food out of the cafeteria, organizing biking trips to school with their friends, or starting intramural sports leagues. "With so many young Americans fighting weight issues, this campaign intends to give teens the power to take their health and the health of their schools in their own hands," says DoSomething.org's Brittany Castaneda. “We believe change will start with giving teens a voice, so we're launching a challenge to all the young people out there to perform their own school makeover." One winning project will be selected to receive a party for their school, a #1,000 scholarship for the teen taking the lead, and S1,000 scholarships for up to four friends who help him or her organize. For more information and to view Laila Ali's PSA, visit DoSomething.org/HealthySchools. AboutDoSomething.org DoSomething.org is the nation's largest organization dedicated to empowering young people to take action around any cause. A driving force in creative a culture of volunteerism, DoSomething.org plans to activate two million young people a year in their communities by 2011. By leveraging communications technologies and social media, DoSomething.org enables teens to convert their ideas and energy into positive action. The award-­‐winning site inspires, empowers and celebrates a generation of doers: teenagers who recognize the need to do something, believe in their ability to get it done, and then take action. Plug in at www.DoSomething.org.