Mayor Kevin Johnson and Coca-Cola Announce Grant to Get Sacramento Moving

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Updated

Mayor Kevin Johnson and Coca-Cola Announce Grant to Get Sacramento Moving

Grant Will Support Coca-Cola's Troops for Fitness Program

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Finding fun ways to get active in Sacramento just got easier. Today,Mayor Kevin Johnson joined Coca-Cola to unveil a substantial program to help bolster the city's health and fitness initiatives.


Totaling $192,500, the grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) will be used by the City of Sacramento's Department of Parks and Recreation (SPDR). The grant will help the city to marshal fitness resources for neighborhoods through multiple initiatives

As part of the Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness program, the funding will help to offer programs and classes instructed by 14 military veterans at five recreation centers. The veterans will lead walking workouts, gardening for health, heart-healthy dance, exercise boot camp, Taiji, golf to good health, and healthy nutrition.

"Together with Mayor Johnson, we are making health and wellness programs accessible to every Sacramentan," said Rick Frazier, Chief Product Supply and Service Officer, Coca-Cola Refreshments. "We believe this initiative can create real results by encouraging and helping people of all ages to exercise and learn to live a balanced lifestyle."

Mayor Kevin Johnson said access to nutrition education and physical activity programs in underserved neighborhoods is a high priority for his office.

"This project will provide health and fitness resources across the city of Sacramento. It will reach the communities that need it most while providing employment opportunities for our nation's heroes," he said.

The parks programs are described as:

  • Walk and Talk with a Vet

    • Weekly walking workouts led by a veteran

  • Gardening for Healthy Living

    • A gardening course which teaches the easiest methods of growing and cultivating fruits and vegetables.

  • Dance Your Way to Heart Health

    • Participants learn how dancing can be a fun form of exercise and regular way to enjoy healthy living.

  • Exercise Boot Camp

    • Classes designed to improve heart health. Their purpose is to strengthen and tone, getting participants more active and energized.

  • Taiji (Tai Chi)

    • Tai Chi was originally created as a martial art. Practicing Tai Chi can improve one's health, reduce tension and reduce blood pressure and heart problems.

  • Nutrition

    • A course that teaches which foods have the most nutritional benefit and which foods should be eaten in moderation.

  • Swing for Your Health

    • Golf for a healthier lifestyle and wellbeing.

Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness helps demonstrate the commitment of The Coca-Cola Foundation and The Coca-Cola Company to promote balanced living. The program supports veteran employment and demonstrates how partnering with local communities can have a meaningful impact.

Through a $3 million grant to NRPA, Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness will be rolled out in 12 communities over the next three years. Sacramento will join Chicago, San Antonio and Miami as the fourth major U.S. metropolitan area to implement Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness. Additional cities that will activate Coca-Cola Troops for Fitness in 2013 include Atlanta and Newark.

About The Coca-Cola Foundation

Since its inception, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded more than $500 million to support global sustainable community initiatives, including water stewardship, community recycling, active, healthy living, and education. For more information about The Coca-Cola Foundation, please go to www.thecoca-colacompany.com/citizenship/foundation_coke.html.

About City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation

The City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation's mission is to focus on the development and implementation of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan as an element of the city's general plan. The Parks and Recreation department encourages individuals, business, and citizens groups to use the parks and facilities available to them through events, general use, and special projects.

About the National Recreation and Park Association

The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 30,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources. For more information, visit www.NRPA.org. For digital access to NRPA's flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.



Office of Mayor Kevin Johnson
Ben Sosenko, 916-529-3641
bsosenko@cityofsacramento.org
or
The Coca-Cola Company
Corby Casler, 206-669-2978
ccasler@coca-cola.com

KEYWORDS: United States North America California

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