Houston, March 15, 2010 — Aetna (NYSE:AET), the Aetna Foundation and Earvin “Magic” Johnson Enterprises (MJE), in collaboration with Harris County Hospital District, have launched an 18-week nutrition and exercise competition between fifth- and sixth-graders at Escamilla Intermediate School in the Aldine Independent School District (AISD) in Houston. The competition, named the 3-Point PlaySM, was created in 2009 to help combat childhood obesity. Last year, five schools in the Houston Independent School District participated in the inaugural program. The 3-Point Play program has three main components that encourage kids to: move more; eat healthier; and engage students and their families in making lasting healthy lifestyle changes. The success of the program is based on three measures: pre- and post-“Fitnessgrams” administered to each student; active program participation; and meeting state guidelines for physical activity minutes. Fitnessgrams include a body mass index (BMI) measurement, a cardio-respiratory test, and strength and flexibility testing. “Promoting healthy living is a priority for Aetna. After seeing the alarming statistics of childhood obesity in this country, we felt it was important to develop a program in response to this growing epidemic,” said Jeff Bernhard, Aetna’s regional head of public and labor. “In 2009 we rolled out this program in five schools in the Houston Independent School District with great success, and we hope to achieve great results with the students at Escamilla.”
Students from Escamilla will accumulate points by using a pedometer to help monitor steps taken and calories burned, completing family homework assignments and participating in health awareness activities online. Teachers, physical education instructors and technologists at the school will administer the curriculum and track the points. “Childhood obesity is a critical challenge facing children in communities across our country today. Coming up with innovative ways to help kids learn to make healthy food choices and keep active is extremely important,” said Earvin “Magic” Johnson, chairman and chief executive officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises. ““The 3-Point Play program will provide several ways to engage children and their parents in fun and educational activities that focus on nutrition and physical activity.” Parents, teachers and students can visit www.communityvitality.com and click on the “school” to participate in online games, announcements, healthy tips and videos including messages from Johnson, which will coincide with the curriculum taught in the classrooms. Harris County Hospital District, the public health care system for Harris County, will provide the weekly classroom curriculum, homework exercises, extra-credit activities and program incentives to the students at Escamilla. The 3-Point Play program was made possible through grants provided by the Aetna Foundation. About the Aetna and Magic Johnson Alliance
Aetna and Magic Johnson Enterprises announced the “Team up for a Healthy Tomorrow” initiative in January 2008. The principal goals of the three-year collaboration are to create a dialogue and action in diverse urban and suburban communities to help people understand the health resources available to them and encourage them to take a more active role in their health and wellness. In addition, the initiative seeks to give a credible voice, via a recognized and respected leader, to major issues in health care such as the need to improve health literacy and racial and ethnic inequality in health care, thereby empowering people to ask questions, seek answers and create a demand for high-quality health care that respects their cultural preferences. For more information, see www.communityvitality.com. About Magic Johnson Enterprises
Magic Johnson Enterprises, formed in 1987, serves as a catalyst for community and economic empowerment by making available high-quality entertainment, products and services that answer the demands of ethnically diverse urban communities. Through investment, partnership and consultation, Magic Johnson Enterprises has a portfolio of companies that strategically work together to reinforce the organization’s focus on serving emerging, multicultural communities. Learn more at www.magicjohnsonenterprises.com About the Aetna Foundation
The Aetna Foundation is a national health foundation that promotes wellness, health, and access to high-quality health care for everyone. Our giving is focused on addressing the rising rates of adult and childhood obesity in the U.S.; promoting racial and ethnic equity in health and health care; and advancing integrated health care. Originally founded in 1972 as the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc., Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed over $379 million in grants and sponsorships since 1980. This work is enhanced by the time and commitment of Aetna employees, who have volunteered nearly 2 million hours since 2003. For more information visit www.aetnafoundation.org. About Aetna
Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.1 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com. |
