Be Active North Carolina Awards 26 Grants to Physical Activity Programs Across the State

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — Be Active North Carolina, the state’s leading nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of physical activity and wellness, has awarded 26 grants to nonprofit organizations and government agencies across the state.

Be Active North Carolina contributed over $30,000 to physical activity programs in 12 counties. Grants were awarded to: Office of Sponsored Programs East Carolina University, Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department, Jones County Health Department, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, West Buncombe Elementary School Parent Teacher Association, Beaufort County Schools, Washington Parks and Recreation Department, and SPARK located in 19 elementary and middle schools across the state.

• Choose Active Now (CAN), a program developed at East Carolina University, received $5,000 to fund an afterschool program in two rural area schools in Pitt County.
  
  
• Be Active Move More, created by the Greensboro Parks and Recreation Department received a donation of 100 pedometers and other motivational materials which will be used to encourage and educate area children about the benefits of physical activity.
  
  
• The Jones County Health Department was awarded 250 pedometers for the Healthy Enthusiastic Active and Responsible Teachers and Staff (HEARTS) program to initiate a county wide walking program and participate in the first annual Walk-a-thon.
  
  
• Martin Luther King and Spaugh Middle Schools in Mecklenburg County received $5,000 to develop unused land for hiking trails and team building activities.
  
  
• West Buncombe Elementary PTA was given $3,000 to create an asphalt access path to the school playground for wheelchair bound students.
  
  
• Fishlike Fitness, a program created in the Beaufort County School System, was granted $2,000 to purchase aquatic equipment and teach water safety skills to students at PS Jones Elementary in Washington, NC.
  
  
• The City of Washington Parks and Recreation Department received $2,000 to erect a fence around a public skate park that will improve safety and increase participation.
  
  
• Nineteen schools across North Carolina each received $500 to fund the Sports, Play & Active Recreation for Kids (SPARK) program in their school. These funds will help schools in Durham, Duplin, Jackson, Macon, Robeson, and Union counties implement this innovative Physical Education program.

Be Active NC is the nation’s best statewide organization for health and physical activity according to The National Association for Health and Fitness (NAHF). It is based in the Research Triangle Park and operates programs in each of the state’s 100 counties. To learn more about Be Active North Carolina and its programs please visit www.beactivenc.org.

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