November 20, 2006
NFL And Florida Department Of Agriculture And Consumer Services Team To Promote Healthier Living Through “Super Bowl XLI Kickoff To Better Health” Campaign Leading Up To Super Bowl Week
South Florida community events to provide health screenings, information, counseling and a chance to win Super Bowl XLI tickets
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has teamed up with the NFL and a coalition of South Florida organizations to promote healthy nutrition and exercise through the “Super Bowl XLI Kickoff to Better Health” initiative, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced today.
“This initiative is the latest in our Department’s ongoing campaign to raise public awareness about the importance of proper nutrition and healthy lifestyle,” Bronson said. “The excitement generated by South Florida’s hosting of the Super Bowl is a great opportunity to help spread this message to segments of the population that are disproportionately affected by obesity and related health problems.”
Each year the NFL identifies leading community organizations to team with as part of the Super Bowl multicultural outreach initiative. These Super Bowl programs focus on the education, advancement and leadership of both racial and gender minorities in the host city.
The “Super Bowl XLI Kickoff to Better Health” initiative programs are projected to impact the lives of more than 20,000 people in South Florida during its three-month healthy lifestyle campaign.
“One of our primary community focuses for the 2006 season is to help promote the importance of living healthier lifestyles to our fans,” said NFL Director of Community Ventures Beth Colleton. “Our partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services allows the NFL to support existing initiatives that directly respond to the immediate health awareness needs of the residents of South Florida.”
The first public event of the “Super Bowl XLI Kickoff to Better Health” project offers an opportunity to meet our coalition of health partners and be among the first to enter to win Super Bowl XLI tickets on November 26, in conjunction with Bishop Victor T. Curry, AM 1490 and Dr. Bobby Jones’ International Gospel Retreat Kickoff at New Birth Baptist Church Cathedral of Faith International in Miami. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. with a live radio remote.
The “Super Bowl XLI Kickoff to Better Health” initiative will include three city-wide projects that provide South Florida residents with opportunities to participate in a variety of events and activities that will test their health indicators, teach families new and easy ways to stay healthy, and inspire them to kick off a new healthy lifestyle that includes healthy foods and physical activity.
The first project, “Mission to Health,” starts this month and continues through the end of January at African Americans and Caribbean descent churches in Miami-Dade County. The Florida Heart Research Institute in conjunction with the Miami-Dade County Health Department will screen for blood pressure, body mass index, cholesterol and glucose to identify those at risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes and obesity. Each participant will be counseled based upon individual risk for chronic disease to urge healthy lifestyle changes. The collaborative partnership, which includes medical follow-up, will be provided by registered nurses, dietitians and health educators.
The second project, “Overtown Program,” will promote knowledge about healthy nutritional practices and connects nutritionists and physicians from the University of Miami’s Department of Family Medicine with students and teachers at Booker T. Washington High School. A web site, book, and other activities will promote healthy lifestyles for high school youth. The “Overtown Diet” will be developed in conjunction with area schools, restaurants and churches.
The third project, “Love Yourself, Take Care of Yourself,” begins in November and continues through the end of January. The Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP) South Florida Alliance of Community Partners will host community-wide activities to promote health awareness activities in the African American and Caribbean communities in South Florida. These health and wellness activities will culminate with celebrity workout demonstrations, health screenings, and a healthy food tasting.
In addition to receiving important health and nutrition information, participants at these community events will also have the opportunity to sign up to win a pair of Super Bowl tickets. Interested residents can also register online at www.KickoffToBetterHealth.com.
In addition to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Super Bowl XLI Health Care Coalition is composed of several community organizations and institutions including the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Jackson Memorial Hospital Family Medicine Residency, Florida International University Stempel School of Public Health, Jefferson Reaves Sr. Health Center (JRSHC), Booker T. Washington (BTW) High School, Miami-Dade County Health Department, Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade, Florida Heart Research Institute, Miami-Dade Area Health Education Center, University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Economic Opportunity Family Health Center, Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, Health Foundation of South Florida, Dade Community Foundation, Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP), University of Miami Miller School of Medicine Tissue Bank, University of Miami School of Medicine Project Outreach, Life Alliance Donor Recovery, Donate Life, Baptist Health System, South Dade Community Health Center, and 100 Black Men of South Florida.
As part of its ongoing “Fresh from Florida” marketing program, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is involved in public awareness campaigns that encourage reasonable and achievable lifestyle changes including increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables, with the eventual goal of consuming at least five servings a day. The campaigns also encourage increased physical activity, especially among those with sedentary lifestyles. For more information on the “Fresh from Florida” program visit www.Florida-Agriculture.com.
For more information:
Yolanda Roundtree
(850) 413-7961
roundty@doacs.state.fl.us
