ROOSEVELT, NY – Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi joined New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, the North Shore-LIJ Health System, and representatives from the Roosevelt School District and Bank of America to announce a new school-based wellness initiative called “Activity Works”. The program comes in response to recent statistics that shows that one of every three children is considered overweight or obese, and uses kinetic learning to bring physical activity into the classroom.

“This program will not only encourage our children to exercise but will give them important tools to carry into adulthood that will enable them to live healthy lifestyles, all the while making learning geography, math, and science more interesting,” said County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi. “We’ve all heard it a million times – if you want to be healthy, eat right and exercise. This is a great way for children to start these habits at a young age.”

“Improving the health of the communities we serve is a key part of North Shore-LIJ’s mission, and given the growing concerns over childhood obesity, we believe that school-based wellness programs like Activity Works can play an important role in keeping our kids healthy,” Mr. Dowling said.

"Childhood obesity translates into more serious health problems down the road, and those problems lead to hundreds of millions of dollars in health care costs," said Mr. DiNapoli. "The North Shore-LIJ Health System is doing its part to help New York’s youngsters get moving with this great program. Efforts like Activity Works will help bring childhood obesity under control."

Activity Works combines elementary school subject matter and physical exercise to create a kinetic learning experience. The program features 10-minute videos and CDs that are used by teachers to help students learn math, science, geography and other subjects, while also getting badly needed exercise. Roosevelt’s Centennial Avenue School second- and third-graders demonstrated a virtual “trip” across the United States, using stand-in-place movements while climbing the Brooklyn Bridge, rowing down the Mississippi River and visiting other destinations across the country.

The first-of-its-kind program, developed by North Shore-LIJ’s Office of Community Health, is currently being piloted among 1,000 second-and third-graders in five Long Island school districts: Glen Cove, North Bellmore, Roosevelt, Valley Stream and Westbury. The program is being funded at no cost to the school districts; North Shore-LIJ is underwriting the costs, thanks in part to a grant from Bank of America.

The ultimate goal is to expand Activity Works to other elementary schools in the region and across New York State, which will help schools fulfill the state’s physical education mandate.

Childhood wellness is a high priority for County Executive Suozzi as part of his “Healthy Nassau” campaign to make Nassau County the healthiest county in the country. Healthy Nassau seeks to sustain a healthy environment, focusing on air, land and water, while encouraging healthy living, tending to bodies, minds and spirits.

Healthy Nassau initiatives include:

• Healthy Nassau-Roosevelt Field Mall Walking Club
• Fitness Trail at Eisenhower Park
• Ban on trans fats and the placement of calorie counts on menus;
• Working with other large municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and explore mass transit options;
• Continuing to preserve the County’s remaining open space;
• Operating an organic farm at Old Bethpage Village Restoration;
• Providing space for a Farmer’s Market offering fresh, local produce;
• The Biggest Loser Weight-Off Competition for County workers;
• Seeking a state-authorized increased cigarette tax to discourage smoking

To learn more about the Activity Works program, go to www.activityworks.org