9/17/2008

California Governor’s Council Shines Spotlight
on State’s Newest Fitness Champions
Governor Launches 3rd Annual Fitness Challenge for Schools

The Governor was joined in his praise of the winners by Council Chairman Jake Steinfeld, founder of Major League Lacrosse and “Body by Jake.” Also joining them was Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, a founding sponsor of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and presenting sponsor of the Spotlight Awards. Anthem Blue Cross Foundation has granted more than $1.4 million to the Council over the last 4 years.

“We’re proud to shine a spotlight on each of our awardees because they are each doing something very special to help California’s children. From the Tommie Smith Youth Track Meet that lifts the spirits and builds the bodies of Bay Area children, to Principal Jean Richmond who has revolutionized the way her San Diego students view physical fitness and nutrition, these are OUR heroes,” said Steinfeld.

“Anthem Blue Cross Foundation recognizes the benefits of physical fitness as part of a healthy lifestyle,” said Leslie A. Margolin, president of Anthem Blue Cross of California. “As the Presenting Sponsor of the Spotlight Awards, the foundation is delighted to be supporting efforts to instill the importance of wellness in the children of our state. We’re also thrilled to announce today that the foundation is continuing as a major sponsor of the Governor’s Council and the sole sponsor of the Spotlight Awards in 2009 with an additional investment of $382,600.”

Research shows that regular physical activity during childhood and adolescence helps build healthier bones and muscles, increases self-esteem, and reduces the risk of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a leader in preventing childhood obesity and encouraging all Californians to live healthier. Since taking office, the Governor has:

• Increased fresh fruits and vegetables in our schools.
• Banned junk food and soda from schools.
• Banned trans fats and foods fried in unhealthy oils from schools.
• Increased funding for physical education classes and equipment for our schools.
• Held an obesity summit to raise awareness and get families involved.
• Proposed a comprehensive health care reform plan that emphasizes prevention and wellness.

About the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
The California Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting physical activity for all Californians with an emphasis on children and youth. Governor Schwarzenegger is the Honorary Chairman and Council members include Chairman Jake Steinfeld, Vice Chairman Peter Vidmar, and California sports legends such as Lisa Fernandez, Julie Foudy, Tony Hawk, Lisa Leslie, Misty May-Treanor, and Jerry Rice. Governor’s Council Key Initiatives include the Governor’s Challenge, the Governor’s Council Spotlight Awards Presented by Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, the Governor’s Council Activity Guide presented by Longs Drugs, the Live Like a Champion Tour powered by Anthem Blue Cross and Exercise is Medicine. Founding sponsors are the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation, Applied Materials, and Kaiser Permanente. For more information visit www.CalGovCouncil.org.

About the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation
Through charitable grant making, the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation LLC, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Association promotes Anthem Blue Cross’ inherent commitment to enhance the health and well-being of individuals and families in communities that the company serves. The Foundation focuses its funding on strategic initiatives that address and provide innovative solutions to reduce the number of uninsured as well as organizations and nonprofit charities that promote the Healthy Generations Program, a multi-generational initiative that targets specific disease states and medical conditions. These include: prenatal care in the first trimester, low birth weight babies, cardiac morbidity rates, long term activities that decrease obesity and increase physical activity, diabetes prevalence in adult populations, adult pneumococcal and influenza vaccinations and smoking cessation. The Foundation also coordinates the company’s annual associate giving campaign and its parent foundation provides a 50 percent match of associates’ campaign pledges.

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The gold medal winners of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports 2008 Spotlight Awards Presented by the Anthem Blue Cross Foundation
Principal – Jean Richmond, Chesterton Elementary, San Diego
Teacher – Michelle Kelley, Leggett Valley District, Leggett
Non-Profit Organization – Latino Health Access, Santa Ana
Company – Burgeson’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Redlands
Event – Tommie Smith Youth Track Meet, Oakland
Park and Recreation Program – CX3-City of La Mesa
Schools
- Hazel Strauch Elementary School, Sacramento
- Cecil Avenue Middle School, Delano
- Apollo High School, Simi Valley

Full descriptions of the gold, silver and bronze medalists in each of the first six categories, plus the eleven regional award winning schools in the 2008 Governor’s Challenge Competition can be found at www.CalGovCouncil.org