FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Lisa Desatnik, 513-984-5474
Nancy Strassel (513) 531-0200
Public Contact:
Dave Martorano, Clippard Family YMCA
513-923-4466
YMCA TAKES OVER LEADERSHIP OF AMERICA ON THE MOVE IN OHIO
Small Steps to Better Health Aim of Free Program for Individuals, Employers, Community Groups
The YMCA of Greater Cincinnati will now lead America On the Move in Ohio, a four-year-old program that provides free tools and support for individuals and groups wanting to implement small changes toward a healthier lifestyle, including increasing and tracking the number of steps taken daily.
The Health Improvement Collaborative of Greater Cincinnati began the program in 2003 in the Cincinnati area and later expanded its reach throughout the state of Ohio.
“We have been partners with America on the Move since its inception, so we are pleased to bring it into the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati’s complement of health and wellness initiatives,” said Sandy Walker, YMCA president. “We are building on the success of the past four years by expanding even further the program’s outreach to area businesses, schools, community groups and individuals.”
More than 900 groups consisting of more than 11,000 individuals have participated in the program to date. America On the Move in Ohio offers free tool kits to groups interested in beginning the program, organizes special events such as the month-long “Steptember “ action campaign, maps out walking trails throughout the area, and helps groups to launch a walking program. It provides free access to a Web-based tool to track steps by individual or by group.
The most recent Community Health Status Study shows 62 percent of residents in the Tristate are overweight, and 27 percent of these are obese.
“Helping individuals and communities to be physically active is central to our vision that all people can achieve abundantly healthy lives. ” Walker said. “Research shows that small steps do make a positive difference over time, and the YMCA is excited to offer this simple yet effective program in our community to help people get started on a lifelong journey to better health.”
“We are pleased to turn the program over to the YMCA and to have it sustained in our community,” said Nancy Strassel, who serves as special projects director for the Collaborative and has overseen the effort since its inception. “The mission of the Collaborative is to be an innovative incubator and then to transition its programs over time to an organization to sustain them into the future. The YMCA, with its expertise in this area, is the perfect partner to grow the program to its full potential.”
For information on America On the Move in Ohio, please contact Dave Martorano at the Cippard Family YMCA at (513) 923-4466 or visit www.americaonthemove.org.
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