Picture: Michael Wrenn of Bank of America (second from left), presents a check for $2,800 to the YMCA of Greater Nashua to enable low-income children to use the Nashua YMCA's STRIVE Youth Fitness Center. Representing the YMCA of Greater Nashua are Mike LaChance, CEO (far left); Mike Myles who works with youth in the STRIVE Center (second from right); and Joe Manzoli, branch director of the Nashua YMCA (far right).
Nashua, NH: April 21, 2008 - The Bank of America Charitable Foundation presented a check for $2,800 to provide 40 low-income children the opportunity to participate in the YMCA of Greater Nashua's Interval Training classes. These classes, part of the Nashua YMCA's STRIVE® Youth Fitness Center, are designed to introduce youth ages 8-13 to basic wellness practices and provide motivation to become engaged in healthy activities on a regular basis.
"Bank of America believes strongly in supporting organizations that provide youth with the resources and tools they need to promote and develop a healthy life style", said John F. Weeks, president, Bank of America New Hampshire. "The YMCA of Nashua is taking the issue of child obesity head on by offering youth a program that helps them develop and understand the importance of physical fitness. Bank of America is proud to support this worthy program."
The YMCA of Greater Nashua aims to be recognized by its members and the community as a leader and a resource promoting the healthy development of children, families, and community. Providing programs to reduce obesity and lack of activity among youth, teens, and adults is one of the priorities of the organization. The YMCA has branches in Nashua, south Merrimack and a summer camp also in Merrimack to provide families in surrounding towns an opportunity to develop a healthier lifestyle.
Bank of America's donation will specifically provide access to the STRIVE® Youth Fitness Center to those that need it most. The center was created for the Nashua community to meet the growing problem of childhood obesity. Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that obesity - especially when coupled with its prominent role as a risk factor for such major chronic diseases as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, asthma and depression - will soon replace smoking as the major cause of preventable death in the United States, with direct economic costs of roughly $120 billion annually.
The center is available for youth ages 8 - 13 and provides traditional fitness equipment as well as Dance Dance Revolution - an interactive game that gets the blood flowing. The center opened in the summer of 2007 and over 150 children are using it regularly to improve their overall health and wellness. Funding from Bank of America will enable the YMCA of Greater Nashua to work with pediatricians and school nurses to identify 40 low-income children who would benefit from the opportunity to attend the STRIVE® Youth Fitness Center 4-week Interval Program at no charge.
Mike LaChance, CEO for the YMCA of Greater Nashua stated, "Currently one-third of children living in New Hampshire are overweight or obese and this is a major factor in developing long term chronic diseases. With this grant from the Bank of America Charitable Foundation we can work with a significant number of youth to help them develop a healthy, active lifestyle."
For more information about getting your child involved with the STRIVE® Youth Fitness Center or other YMCA programs, call 603-882-2011 or visit http://www.nmymca.org/.
Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy
Building on a long-standing tradition of investing in the communities it serves, Bank of America is in its fourth year of achieving an unprecedented 10-year goal to donate $1.5 billion to nonprofit organizations engaged in improving the health and vitality of their neighborhoods. Funded by Bank of America, the Bank of America Charitable Foundation will give more than $225 million in 2008, making the bank the most generous financial institution in the world and the second largest donor of all U.S. corporations in cash contributions. Bank of America approaches giving through a national strategy called "neighborhood excellence" under which it works with local leaders to identify and meet the most pressing needs of individual communities. Through Team Bank of America, bank associate volunteers contributed more than 650,000 hours in 2007 to enhance the quality of life in their communities nationwide. For more information about Bank of America Corporate Philanthropy, please visit www.bankofamerica.com/foundation.
