Blogs from 2011

November

Nov 18, 2011 - Michelle Kwan and Dominique Dawes on Avoiding Fitness Fails
Nov 11, 2011 - Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) Challenge

October

Oct 20, 2011 - Challenge Yourself to get Healthy and Earn PALA+ - Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA, discuses her three-point plan to stay healthy and active.
Oct 04, 2011 - Eating and Moving with Miner Elementary Students - Dominique Dawes, Co-Chair, President's Council on Fitness Sports & Nutrition, discusses her recent visit to Miner Elementary School in Washington, D.C.

September

Sept 28, 2011 - Success is Moving Towards a Healthier Future - Last September, First Lady Michelle Obama and the President's Council members launched the Million PALA Challenge, with the goal of one million Americans achieving the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award in one year. Not only was the goal reached but they hit it out of the park, with over 1.7 million Americans joining our call to "get moving"!

August

Aug 25, 2011 - Boy Scouts Get SCOUTStrong to Earn their PALA - This year, the BSA created SCOUTStrong, a Scout-specific Presidential Active Lifestyle Award(PALA) challenge. In keeping with PCFSN's mission to empower all Americans to lead active, healthy lifestyles the BSA helps provide wonderful opportunities for youth to be active outdoors and learn some important life skills and lessons.
Aug 16, 2011 - Dr. Koh throws out first pitch at the HHS "Night at the Ballpark!" - Dr. Howard Koh, HHS Assistant Secretary for Health. Late last month, I had the privilege of joining more than 2,300 fellow Health and Human Services (HHS) employees for a great night at the Washington Nationals' baseball game and to promote a national movement to help our Nation get more active. And throwing out the first pitch was an added honor and joy!
Aug 11, 2011 - Swim, Bike, Run: D.C. Area Youth Give It a "Tri" - Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director, President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. Last Friday, August 5, more than 100 Washington, D.C. area youth competed in all three sports at the Anacostia Recreation Center through ACHIEVE Youth Triathlon Summer Camp.
Aug 10, 2011 - Fit to Fight with the President's Challenge - Lauren Darensbourg, President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. The Council got active with more than 300 local teenagers at the 40thAnnual Tuskegee Airmen National Convention in Washington, D.C.

June

Jun 8, 2011 - I am strong, I am empowered, I am healthy, I am a Girl on the Run! - By Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services. Secretary Sebelius joined Girls on the Run - DC and 717 girls to run a 5k race and celebrate the education and preparation of girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.
June 3, 2011- Our Nation's Warriors - By Stephen McDonough, MD, Council member, President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. Dr. McDonough was reminded of the courage and spirit our wounded service members show every day, while visiting the 2nd annual Warrior Games in Colorado - an athletic tournament for injured servicemen and women co-sponsored by the United States Olympic Committee and Department of Defense.

May

May 26, 2011 - Physical Fitness for All- By Alexa Posny, Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the Department of Education
May 23, 2011- Get Outside and Be Active: National Physical Fitness and Sports Month- By: Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director, PCFSN. The President's Council partners with various sports leagues nationwide to reach the goal of 1 million Americans earning their PALAs by September. Many of our partner organizations are also making it easier and more accessible for persons with disabilities to be active.
May 20, 2011- Earning PALAs: the I Can Do It, You Can Do It program in Miami-Dade County- By Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director, PCFSN. Miami-Dade County Public Schools in Florida awarded 1,253 Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) certificates to students with disabilities through the I Can Do It, You Can Do It program. Their zero-budget Physical Education program has been innovative in finding funding, developing inclusive activities, and incorporating other subjects into physical education.
May 19, 2011- Activities in May: Celebrating National Physical Fitness and Sports Month- By Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director, PCFSN. Throughout May, National Physical Fitness and Sports month, different days and weeks are designated to target specific activities or populations. The Council participated in the South Lawn Series and held an open Council meeting. The First Lady announced the partnership with International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) to provide free fitness club memberships and personal training sessions to immediate family members of actively deployed reservists and National Guard members.
May 19, 2011 - Let's Move!: Federal Employees Help Students Gear Up for Fitness- By Jennifer Arthur, Auditor, Department of Education's Office of the Inspector General
May 9, 2011- Supporting Military Families and Let's Move!- By Robin Schepper, Executive Director, Let's Move!. First Lady Michelle Obama announced new collaborations to support our military families and ensure that everyone can get out and get moving. Let's Move! and the President's Council have partnered with the International Health, Racquet, and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE) to provide free fitness club memberships and personal training sessions to immediate family members of actively deployed reservists and National Guard members.
May 4, 2011- "Moving" with Dominique Dawes and Boys & Girls Clubs- By Dominique Dawes, Co-Chair, President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. Dominique Dawes joined youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to try and set a new Guinness World Record for the most people simultaneously doing Jumping Jacks.

April

April 27, 2011- Pathway to Better Health: One Step at a Time – By Tedy Bruschi, Council member, President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. Members of Tedy's Team competed in the Boston Marathon to honor survivors and loved ones lost to stroke. The 43 team members also earned the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award during their last 6 weeks of marathon training.
April 25, 2011 - Adaptive Sports Iowa Helping All Iowans Get Active – By Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition
April 22, 2011- Adaptive Sports Iowa Helping All Iowans Get Active – By Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director, President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. The new organization, Adaptive Sports Iowa (ASI), increases opportunities for Iowans with physical and visual disabilities to participate in physical activity.
April 21, 2011 - NBA and WNBA Joins First Lady's Let's Move campaign with PSAs and 350 events around the country—By Robin Schepper, Executive Director, Let's Move!

March

March 24, 2011 - New Food and Beverage Guidelines for HHS and GSA—By HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and GSA Administrator Martha Johnson
March 23, 2011 - Let's Move! Prevails Over Snow and Ice in North Texas—By Marge Petty, HHS Regional Director for Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma
March 7, 2011 - St. Louis Students Celebrate Second Year of Let's Move—By Judy Baker, HHS Regional Director for Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, & Nebraska

February

February 28, 2011 - PALA in Indian Country—By Levi Horn, Professional Football Player for the Chicago Bears
February 25, 2011 - New York City Gets Moving—By Jaime Torres, HHS Regional Director for New York and New Jersey & April Velasco, Acting Regional Health Administrator
February 16, 2011 - Let's Move! Accomplishments
February 15, 2011 - Girl Scouts USA and Kraft Foods Host Let's Move! Town Hall—By Alexia Kelley, Deputy Director at the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
February 11, 2011 - Let's Celebrate the One-Year Anniversary of Let's Move—By Joshua DuBois, Special Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships
February 11, 2011 - Celebrating the Let's Move! Anniversary with Yoga and Cheers—By Dr. James Galloway, Acting HHS Regional Director and HHS Regional Health Administrator for Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin
February 10, 2011 - City of Orlando hosts a Day-Long Let's Move! Celebration—By Anton Gunn, HHS Regional Director for Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee
February 2, 2011 - You're It. Get Fit! Take the Million PALA Challenge – By Drew Brees, Co-Chair, President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. The Presidential Active Lifestyle Award, or "PALA," and the Million PALA Challenge can help motivate you to include physical activity into your daily routine. Read my blog to learn how.

January

January 24, 2011- High-tech Solutions Can Help Fight Obesity – By Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director, President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. A recent visit to Guinn Middle School in Clark County, Nevada, allowed Shellie to take part in physical education classes using active gaming.
January 18, 2011- Active Gaming Helps Fight Childhood Obesity – By Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director, President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition. Shellie Pfohl writes on the benefits of "active gaming" and the intersection between the use of this cutting-edge technology and the national objectives outlined in Healthy People 2020.