Sparking Change at the Community Level

We’re thrilled to announce Brighter Bites and The Walking Classroom Institute as the winners of the 2018 PHA Impact Award. This award – part of our Catalyst for Change Awards – is presented to a group or an individual who has sparked change at the community level to help build a healthier future. We’re proud to say both organizations demonstrate tremendous impact on the childhood obesity issue, and present a special focus on populations disproportionately impacted. Learn more about the 2018 winners:

Brighter Bites has been instrumental in changing the eating habits of youth across the country. The program has benefited thousands of youth across Texas by distributing fresh produce at schools to take home, and has recently expanded to New York, Washington D.C. and Southwest Florida. But the work of Brighter Bites doesn’t just stop with a simple bag of fruits and veggies. Each portion students take home contains nutrition handbooks, tip sheets and recipes in order for families to make the most of the produce provided to them.

Millions of pounds of produce and nutrition education have been delivered since 2012 thanks to the work of Brighter Bites. And it’s bringing along other organizations for the ride: Brighter Bites partners with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, as well as with academia and large-scale farms, which truly exemplifies its dedication to generating change through a variety of approaches.

Like many instructors, Laura Fenn, M.S. Ed noticed a direct correlation between her student’s academic performance and the amount of physical activity they participated in. The Walking Classroom Institute became her response to the lack of opportunities for student activity during the school day, particularly in low-income areas of North Carolina.

A core area of The Walking Classroom’s approach is its WalkKit audio kits, which make learning fun by allowing students to take their lessons outside for a 20-minute walk while listening to a custom-written, kid-friendly education podcast. Podcast topics range from the importance of staying hydrated to similes/metaphors, the U.S. Constitution and STEM subjects.

The students’ enthusiasm is extraordinary: 84% say they enjoy walking more and 85% believe the Institute has helped them make healthier choices. We’re seeing this integration of exercise with academic learning is not only essential in the fight to combat obesity in youth, but research shows students are returning to the classroom with improved moods, more focus and the ability to engage in post-walk discussions! Beyond this, teachers participating in the program say students retain information better, and the program even helps them meet the needs of students with alternative learning styles such as ADHD, dyslexia, and/or autism. We’re thrilled to see Walking Classroom Institute holds an enormous possibility to engender change in the lives of youth, as well as within the lives of their families and communities.

At PHA, we believe Brighter Bites and The Walking Classroom Institute have the opportunity to influence the healthy behaviors and choices of thousands of youth. The potential these organizations hold for generating systemic changes in the lifestyle of children across America is inspiring. We’re eager to watch them grow, and encourage you to learn more about each organization.

We’ll honor both Impact Award winners at our Fit to Celebrate Gala on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. We are looking forward to a fun night that will focus on recognizing these leaders in the health and wellness space, including Seth Goldman, Co-Founder and TeaEO Emeritus of Honest Tea and winner of our 2018 Visionary CEO Award. Visit http://www.ahealthieramerica.org/gala for more information and to purchase tickets.

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Previous winners of the award are: EcoSpaces Education (2017) and After School All-Stars (2016).