Illinois Governor Pledges Commitment to Child Health and Wellness « Back

Governor Pat Quinn Joins Illinois Students, Dairy Farmers, and Former Chicago Bear to
Pledge Support of Fuel Up to Play 60 and School Wellness Initiatives 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois Governor Pat Quinn today signed a pledge to support Fuel Up to Play 60, an in-school health and wellness program that encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods and to achieve 60 minutes of physical activity every day.  Timed to coincide with the new school year, the special event was held in the historic Dairy Building at the Illinois State Fair as part of “Agriculture Day.”  Governor Quinn’s endorsement of Fuel Up to Play 60 follows that of his fellow chief executives in the Midwestern states of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Joining Governor Quinn at the event were Robert Flider, director, Illinois Department of Agriculture; Dr. LaMar Hasbrouck, director, Illinois Department of Public Health; Dr. Christopher A. Koch, state superintendent, Illinois State Board of Education; Anthony Morgan #81, former Chicago Bears wide receiver; Ray Arceo, Fuel Up to Play 60 Illinois Program Advisor of the Year and wellness educator, Miguel Juarez Middle School in Waukegan; Angelique Livingston, Fuel Up to Play 60 Illinois Student Ambassador from Burr Ridge Middle School; Alejandro Guadarrama, National Student Ambassador from Juarez Middle School; dairy farmers Doug Block from Pearl City and Mark Erdman from Chenoa; and, members of the Midwest Dairy Council.

At the pledge signing, the Governor praised the progress achieved to date by Illinois students and indicated the program is a positive next step toward helping them achieve pathways to better nutrition and fitness for life. “Fuel Up to Play 60 is a valuable in-school program that makes kids’ health and wellness as important as the ABC’s,” said Governor Quinn.  “The program is designed to instill in our young people the benefits of leading healthy lives, and to empower them to make good lifestyle decisions.”

“We are grateful and honored that Governor Quinn is joining the Fuel Up to Play 60 movement today by signing the pledge, and recognizing the efforts of the 3,800 participating Illinois schools taking action for their own health by implementing long-term positive changes for themselves and their schools,” said Laura Frese, registered dietitian and health and wellness program manager for Midwest Dairy Council.

Among the guests commending the Governor’s action were representatives of the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians; Illinois Dietetic Association; Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance; Illinois Association of School Nurses; and Illinois School Nutrition Association.

Launched by National Dairy Council and the National Football League, with additional partnership support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fuel Up to Play 60 has motivated more than 8 million students in 70,000 schools nationwide, including more than 1,928,000 students in Illinois, to be healthy, get active and make a difference.

The Fuel Up to Play 60 program is a direct response to dairy farmers’ concerns that many children in Illinois are overweight and undernourished. “As dairy farmers, we have always cared about legacy and the importance of passing on a better future to the next generation,” said dairy farmer Doug Block of Pearl City.  “To date, the dairy community has awarded more than $175,000 in funding to Illinois schools to help jumpstart and champion school wellness efforts.”

Any school in Illinois can enroll in the free program, thus becoming eligible to apply for funds to help increase awareness of and access to nutrient-rich foods and physical activity opportunities for students. As part of Fuel Up to Play 60, schools can receive a free Quick Start Resources kit with planning tools and in-school collateral materials to help them implement healthy eating and physical fitness plans. The program, now in its second year, also encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and to achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. The ultimate goal is to ensure changes made at school are sustainable and to provide children with more opportunities to be physically active and choose nutrient-rich foods.

“What inspires me about Fuel Up to Play 60 is the willingness and determination of the students to perform, be appreciated and needed.  Students and children across America need to be involved in fighting obesity.  Through such activities as a school-wide walk, ‘Fitness (not Fire) Drills,’ and ‘Breakfast in the Classroom,’ we have helped our school grow into a healthier environment that promotes eating healthy, getting active and making a difference,” said Ray Arceo, Fuel Up to Play 60 Illinois Program Advisor of the Year and wellness educator from Miguel Juarez Middle School in Waukegan.

To learn more about Fuel Up to Play 60, visit FuelUpToPlay60.com or MidwestDairy.com.

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Midwest Dairy Council®, an affiliate of National Dairy Council, is the nutrition education division of Midwest Dairy Association. The Council is dedicated to dairy nutrition research and education through the investment of more than 11,000 dairy farm families across 10 Midwestern states (North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma), and is committed to child health and wellness through our collaborative program, Fuel Up to Play 60. For more information, visit www.midwestdairy.com. Follow us on Twitter and find us on Facebook at Midwest Dairy.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is an in-school nutrition and physical activity program launched by National Dairy Council (NDC) and National Football League (NFL), with additional partnership support  
from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The program encourages youth to consume nutrient-rich foods (low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and achieve at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day.

Fuel Up to Play 60 is designed to engage and empower youth to take action for their own health by implementing long-term, positive changes for themselves and their schools. Customizable and non-prescriptive program components are grounded in research with youth, including tools and resources, in-school promotional materials, a website and student challenges. Fuel Up to Play 60 is further supported by several health and nutrition organizations: Action for Healthy Kids, American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Dietetic Association, National Hispanic Medical Association, National Medical Association and School Nutrition Association. Visit FuelUpToPlay60.com to learn more.

Designed to help tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL’s long-standing commitment to health and fitness with partner organizations, like the NDC. NFLPLAY 60 is also implemented locally, as part of the NFL’s in-school, after-school and team-based programs. For more information, visit NFLRush.com.©

©2012 NFL Properties LLC. All NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League.

National Dairy Council® (NDC) is the nutrition research, education and communications arm of Dairy Management Inc™. On behalf of U.S. dairy farmers, NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier society, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media. Established in 1915, NDC is dedicated to educating the public on the health benefits of consuming milk and milk products throughout a person’s lifespan. For more information, visit NationalDairyCouncil.org.