Published on October 12, 2015

Owensboro Health Foundation Grant Helps Fund Power Up Kidz Program

Healthpark program aims to teach children and families how nutrition and fitness promote healthy lifestyles

OWENSBORO, KY (October 12, 2015) – Owensboro Health Foundation received a $1,000 grant from CSX Transportation to help fund the Power Up Kidz program.

The national epidemic of childhood obesity has lead health officials to suggest that, without change, children today are at risk of becoming the first generation of Americans to have a lower life expectancy than their own parents. Power Up Kidz is a fitness and nutrition program designed specifically to teach children, ages 8-12, who are underactive and/or overweight to develop healthy habits. The focus is on teaching children to make healthy food choices and incorporate regular exercise into their daily routine.

Pat Serey,
Executive Director

“Owensboro Health Foundation is thrilled to have received funding from CSX Transportation to support the Power Up Kidz fitness and nutrition education program. Parents of those children are also engaged in the program to help them create a home environment that ensures their children make healthy choices. We are most grateful to CSX for this donation to improve the health of our community,” said Pat Serey, executive director of the Owensboro Health Foundation.

Classes meet twice a week for a four-week period and are limited to 12 children per session to help staff develop personal relationships with each child, and focus on their individual health needs. Each session includes education on topics such as calorie balance, portion control, limiting sugary beverages, family meals, etc., as well as 40 minutes of organized exercise or structured play.

For more information on how to join Power Up Kidz contact Nick Jones at John.Jones@owensborohealth.org.

About Owensboro Health

Owensboro Health is a nonprofit health system with a mission to heal the sick and to improve the health of the communities it serves in Kentucky and Indiana. The system includes Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nationally recognized for design, architecture and engineering and the only hospital in the world to be designated a Signature Sanctuary by Audubon International, Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital, the Owensboro Health Medical Group comprising over 180 providers in 25 locations, a certified medical fitness facility, and the Mitchell Memorial Cancer Center. Owensboro Health has been recognized for outstanding care, safety and clinical excellence by The Joint Commission, U.S. News & World Report and Becker’s Hospital Review. As the largest employer west of Louisville, Owensboro Health has 4,088 employees, and in FY 2015 saw 18,380 inpatient admissions and 823,072 outpatient encounters. A committed community partner, Owensboro Health provided grants of $702,924 in the last year to health, social service, education and arts agencies across the region. For more information, visit owensborohealth.org.