Copyright © 2007 by the Carolina Panthers.
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October 16, 2007 -- The Carolina Panthers announced a new youth fitness partnership with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools on Tuesday October 9, 2007 at J. M. Robinson Middle School. The announcement was part of the NFL’s national launch of the “Play 60” youth fitness initiative, which encourages kids to get 60 minutes of physical activity each day. To celebrate the Play 60 rollout, the Panthers announced the establishment of a mobile HOPSports fitness system that will serve 32 area middle schools.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students to utilize state-of-the-art technology that will get them moving while shaping positive attitudes toward lifelong fitness,” said Debbie Kaclik, Health & Physical Education Specialist for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. “The HOPSports Training System is innovative and fun. It provides an excellent resource, aligned to the national standards, for the physical educator to provide various life skills options that get kids moving. We are grateful to the Carolina Panthers for committing to improve fitness in CMS youth.”

Panthers lineman Jordan Gross was on hand for the announcement and participated in a HOPSports demonstration with 60 J.M. Robinson students.

“This is fun and challenging,” said Gross. “The ladder drills we did are the same thing that we do in practice on a daily basis. The kids loved it.”

Also present for the unveiling were Kymm Ballard of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, and Laurie Stradley, senior youth program manager for Be Active North Carolina.

“We think this is the next generation of PE,” said Riley Fields, director of community relations for the Carolina Panthers. “The Carolina Panthers are pleased to partner with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to give CMS physical education teachers an exciting new tool to get their students active and motivated about physical activity. It’s a terrific compliment to the Panthers Fit Squad elementary fitness program as well as the NFL’s What Moves U program.”

The HOPSports program provides physical education teachers and students with a diverse curriculum that exposes students to a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. The multimedia curriculum is enhanced by simple specialized equipment that keeps kids focused and moving.

The event was part of the NFL’s annual Hometown Huddle, a league-wide day of service in partnership with the United Way.