Physical activity is vital to American students’ physical health and emotional well-being, helping them learn, concentrate and manage stress throughout the school day, yet most youth are not getting enough movement. According to the American Heart Association, only 1 in 4 children ages 6 to 11 are currently getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity — a statistic that more than doubles for youth ages 12 to 17.
To provide schools more ways to promote physical movement for students and well-being for faculty, the American Heart Association and the National Football League (NFL) have selected 136 schools nationwide, including five in Indiana, to receive Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™ faculty well-being and NFL PLAY 60™ grants.
The five Indiana schools, which received a total of $6,500, are:
Clinton Central Elementary School, Michigantown
Franklin Square Elementary School, Jeffersonville
How the Wildflowers Grow Learning Center, Huntington
Wanamaker Early Learning Center, Indianapolis
West Crawford Elementary School, Eckerty
“Supporting the well‑being of students and educators isn’t just an investment in schools — it’s an investment in entire communities,” said Terri Ruff, board chair for the American Heart Association in Indianapolis. “This grant program helps schools create more moments of movement and more spaces where kids feel supported in both their physical and emotional well-being, creating habits to help them live longer, healthier lives.”
Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge are rooted in proven science and reach millions of students each year. Participants and their families learn how to eat smart, manage stress, avoid tobacco and vaping, recognize the signs of heart attack and stroke and more. They’re also introduced to Hands-Only CPR, a lifesaving skill that children as young as 12 can effectively perform in the event of witnessing a sudden cardiac arrest.
Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge grant applications are accepted year-round and another group of grant recipients will be announced in April.