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.
