Kohl's Cares granted $120,000 over a one-year period to Children's Hospital at Erlanger to fight childhood obesity. The grant will support three strategies to offer programs focusing on healthy eating and fitness for children and families.
The goal of the three programs is to assist Children’s Hospital at Erlanger Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Center to reduce risk for childhood obesity by increasing access to healthy food for food-insecure families and providing opportunities for physical activity to children.
• Through the hospital’s partnership with the Chattanooga Area Food Bank, the HEAL Center will expand the healthy food boxes program, initially funded by Sysco and Koch Foods, to include patients who screen “food insecure” from both Children’s Hospital General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine practices. Now patients from all the three clinics, who do not have consistent access to receive nutritious food, will be referred to the program to assist with their healthy living goals.
• The HEAL “Let’s Get Moving” program will provide toolkits for teachers suggesting opportunities to increase movement in the classroom and organize physical activity competitions in elementary schools and summer child care programs. The program is targeted to increase physical activity among children in 13 counties.
• HEAL will also partner with Bridge Chattanooga to provide physical activity opportunities and cooking and gardening experiences to low-income, at-risk youth and their families.
"Obesity is the most prevalent disease affecting our children today, and must be given high priority given the severity of associated illnesses those affected face throughout their lifetime," said Dr.
Joani Jack, pediatrician, Children's Hospital at Erlanger HEAL clinic. "We know that physical activity helps prevent and manage childhood obesity, as well as benefiting all children of all ages. Through the generosity of Kohl's, we are able to provide lifelong health benefits for the children in our region."
Kohl's commitment to Erlanger is made possible through Kohl's Cares. When customers purchase $5 books and coordinating plush toys, 100 percent of the net profit is donated to organizations that improve family health and wellness, including hospital partnerships like Erlanger. Since 2000, Kohl’s has raised nearly $360 million through the merchandise program.