NikeGO PE, PR and School Programs
This was filed under corporate social responsibility. Is it just too cynical to think Nike is doing seomthing that looks good on the surface but is in some other way sinister? With so many scandals in all walks of life and on all parts of the planet becoming naturally or automatically skeptical should be expected. At the same time it would be unfortunate to discourage corporate outreach programs if they really benefit the publicized recipient.
There may be some history with Nike that was unfavorable to their image and any or all of it could be of no significance anymore. So unless someone out there has some information that would cast suspicion on this apparent good deed, I say we give Nike a compliment for this public service. Even if the use of this PR has economic value to the company and as they say is publicity you typically can’t buy, but…..
Stanford Harris
MoreWhat.com
Nike Brings PE to More Than 400 Schools Across the U.S. and
Gets Kids Moving During National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
Five U.S. Cities Host ‘New PE’ Classes to Bring Attention to the Need for
More Physical Activity in America’s Schools
Nike Athletes Join Students in Celebrating Physical Activity
BEAVERTON, Ore., May 1 /PRNewswire/ — In honor of National Physical
Fitness and Sports Month and National Physical Education and Sport Week,
which kicks off today, Nike (NYSE: NKE) will host a series of NikeGO PE
events in five communities nationwide: Portland; New York; Chicago; Los
Angeles; and Memphis. Coordinated in conjunction with local school
districts, the events will feature students, Nike athletes and local
dignitaries who will participate together in a series of “new PE”
activities to draw attention to the important need for keeping kids active
and ensuring physical education classes remain in schools.
NikeGO PE, which is present in more than 400 elementary schools across
the U.S., seeks to instill a lifelong love of physical activity in young
people and is designed to address rising inactivity rates in youth, a major
national health problem.
Basketball stars Damon Stoudamire (Rookie of the Year) and Candice
Dupree (All Star), Serena Williams (winner of eight Grand Slam singles
titles and an Olympic gold medal in women’s doubles), and former Olympic
marathoner Alberto Salazar are just a few of the Nike athletes scheduled to
participate in NikeGO PE classes this month.
“Nike understands that there is a critical need to get young people
active during their school day,” said Chad Boettcher, director of US
Community Affairs for Nike. “We want to give them as many chances as
possible to be physically active because we believe that activity helps
young people become fit and healthy adults.”
Boettcher said, “We hope that these NikeGO PE events will educate whole
communities about the importance of keeping PE in schools. Together, we
will celebrate dance, sports and play to make a point about the importance
of ensuring that kids participate in 30 minutes of vigorous activity every
day.”
Working together to create a new, innovative approach to physical
education, Nike and SPARK (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids)
teamed up to create the NikeGO PE curriculum, as well as “hands-on” teacher
training and matched equipment sets. These tools help PE specialists and
classroom teachers work together to provide “new PE,” an approach to
physical education that is more inclusive, active and fun than traditional
PE classes. Activities in the NikeGO PE “Playbook” are designed to develop
students’ fitness, motor, and social skills, while providing strategies
that integrate literacy, math science, art, and nutrition into PE lessons.
NikeGO PE modifies games, dances and sport skill to create a movement
environment in which every child, regardless of ability, is provided with
many opportunities to participate and feel successful in PE class.
The Problem of Inactivity in Youth
American school-aged youth are becoming the least physically fit
generation in history. In the past 30 years, overweight and obesity levels
in children have more than doubled. There is evidence that today’s youth
may develop significant health complications such as heart disease, Type II
diabetes (adult onset diabetes) and premature death unless they exercise
more. Children spend a considerable amount of time in school, and schools
are a powerful motivator for helping them adopt healthy lifestyles. Several
studies demonstrate school-based PE programs are one of the most effective
ways to facilitate activity in our youth.
Unfortunately, in many school districts across the country, the role of
the PE specialist has been eliminated or drastically reduced. With recent
national guidelines recommending that young people accumulate at least 60
minutes of physical activity daily, having a quality physical education
program in every school should be a national priority. Through NikeGO PE,
Nike seeks to increase the quality and quantity of PE in schools.
“The realities of the times we live in demand that we strengthen
physical education in our schools and ultimately bring daily physical
education, taught by qualified PE specialists, back to every school in the
United States,” said Paul Rosengard, executive director of the SPARK
Programs. “Because physical activity must be done regularly over time to
achieve health benefits, the goal of NikeGO PE is to encourage classroom
teachers to supplement the PE instruction already provided by their
school’s PE specialist.
“NikeGO PE was created to bridge the gap until more full-time PE
specialists are placed in schools nationwide — a shared goal of Nike and
SPARK.”
About NikeGO PE:
NikeGO PE is an innovative physical education program designed to
increase the quality and quantity of physical activity in America’s schools
with an end goal of improving children’s activity levels. NikeGO PE
accomplishes this task by providing “the essential components”: curriculum,
teacher training, equipment, and follow up support to elementary PE
specialists and classroom teachers. NikeGO PE is part of Nike’s signature
U.S. community affairs initiative — NikeGO. Since its inception in 2003,
the program has been implemented in more than 400 public schools, reaching
more than 75,000 students. For more information, visit
http://www.nikego.com.
About SPARK (Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids):
SPARK is a research-based organization (of San Diego State University
and Sportime, LLC, a member of the School Specialty Family of companies),
dedicated to creating, implementing, and evaluating programs that promote
lifelong wellness. SPARK strives to improve the health of children and
adolescents by disseminating evidence-based physical activity and nutrition
programs that provide curriculum, staff development, follow-up support, and
equipment to teachers of Pre-K through 12th grade students. For more
information, visit http://www.sparkpe.org.
SOURCE Nike