C.H.O.I.C.E.S Holds Let’s Move! DeKalb, June 18th at Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center!

Local Non-profit Takes the First Lady’s’ Initiative across Metro Atlanta
After a successful expo in Fulton County, The Center Helping Obesity In Children End Successfully (C.H.O.I.C.E.S.) announces Let’s Move! DeKalb! This free event will be held Saturday, June 18, 2011 at Porter Sanford III Performing Arts & Community Center located at 3181 Rainbow Drive, Decatur, Georgia 30034 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Let’s Move! DeKalb, made possible by Walmart and the Aetna Foundation, is a free family event providing nutrition and physical education supported by a community and faith-based coalition seeking to encourage families to lead healthier lives. More than 1,000 parents and children are expected to participate in this free, community-wide annual event. Opening remarks will be made at 11:00am by Larry Johnson, District 3 Commissioner and Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford, District Health Director, DeKalb County Board of Health.

“DeKalb County is fortunate to have Walmart and the Aetna Foundation as corporate partners for this event,” said Burrell Ellis, DeKalb County Chief Executive Officer. “This is only a fraction of their overall commitment to end childhood obesity and promote healthy living in our youth, which remains a top priority for all of us.”

Let’s Move! DeKalb will include live stage performances, health screenings, fitness activities, nutrition exhibitions, arts and crafts, program information from local community organization, and special surprise guests. “We are pleased to bring our Nutrition Education and Physical Activity Expo to DeKalb County which continues our mission to educate children and families about making healthy choices,” said Vanetta Keyes, Founder and Executive Director, The Center Helping Obesity In Children End Successfully. “Our goal is to showcase the partnering programs in DeKalb so that families will sign up and get moving!”

“It is imperative that DeKalb County continues to embrace the national Let’s Move! initiative by supporting events such as this one,” said Larry Johnson, District 3 Commissioner and Presiding Officer of the Board of Commissioners. “We are excited about the positive impact that this event and programs planned thereafter, will have upon the health of our children and families.”

For the first time in U.S. history the current generation of children may live sicker, shorter lives than their parents primarily due to obesity-related diseases. According to the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Public Health, a high proportion of the state’s young people are obese: 15 percent of children aged 2-4 years in the Women, Infant and Children (WIC) program, 24 percent of third-grade children, 15 percent of middle school students and 14 percent of high school students.

“As the only community in Georgia to receive federal CPPW (Communities Putting Prevention to Work) funds to fight obesity, we are determined to effect real policy, system and environmental changes that will increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and reduce obesity and the related illnesses plaguing our children,” said Dr. S. Elizabeth Ford, District Health Director, DeKalb County Board of Health.

The special event partners for Let’s Move! DeKalb include the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Hawks, Commissioner Larry Johnson, the DeKalb County Board of Health, the DeKalb County School System, the Fulton-DeKalb Hospital Authority, the National Institutes of Health (We Can!), Inspiring Kids Academy, Swagger Crew Fit Kidz and many more.

The event is FREE and open to the public.. Volunteers are needed. For more information, visit www.ChoicesForKids.org or call (678) 819-3663.