The Olympic Gold Medal Mentality
July 5, 2024
Heather Mitts Feeley, three-time Olympic Soccer Gold Medalist, shares her perspectives on youth health and fitness, including what went into her drive to Olympic stardom.
Impact
Since 2011, Fit Kids has served thousands of young children across the country, often in areas where opportunities for sports and physical activities are scarce. Through our growing network of partners, we continue to introduce children to physical activity and movement so they can enjoy its many benefits, including:
IMPROVING PHYSICAL HEALTH
Fit Kids helps children improve their cardiovascular fitness, strength, flexibility, and overall physical condition.
ENHANCING EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING
Children participating in Fit Kids report increased self-esteem, better mood regulation, and reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression.
PROMOTING HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHOICES
Fit Kids encourages lifelong habits of health and fitness, including positive choices related to nutrition, exercise, and wellness.
EDUCATIONAL IMPACT
Fit Kids helps children understand the connection between their physical health and their concentration, memory, and academic performance.
ADDRESSING INEQUALITIES IN ACCESS TO FITNESS
Fit Kids works to ensure that all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have the chance to participate in structured physical activities.
BUILDING COMMUNITY AND SOCIAL SKILLS
Fit Kids helps children develop teamwork, leadership, and social interaction skills.
Fit Kids’ Impact in Fiscal Year 2023
Fit Kids conducts multiple surveys each year with all of our partners to collect data on the impact of our program. For Fiscal Year 2023, Fit Kids enhanced its year-end partner survey, yielding more detailed statistics from our partners on the positive impact Fit Kids has on students.
On a 1 to 5 scale, where 5 is the best and partners strongly agree, our partners consistently rated us a 4 or better on the following statements:
Fits Kids makes physical activity fun
0
Fit Kids has increased students’ physical activity levels
0
Fit Kids motivates students to engage in physical activity
0
Fit Kids has a positive impact on students’ mood and mental health
0
Students are excited to use the Fit Kids equipment
0
Fit Kids makes is easy for me to help students be active
0
Other Highlights from Fiscal Year 2023
In Fiscal Year 2023 fit Kids added:
NEW PARTNER SITES
15
NEW STATES
3
Michigan, Utah, and Arizona
INTERNATIONAL PARTNER
1
Border Youth Tennis Exchange (BYTE)
NEW VIDEOS
13
Including yoga, mindfulness, and dance fitness
“
“Because of this program, I’ve noticed a great number of students have reduced feelings of depression and stress, while improving overall mood and emotional well-being.”
— PE TEACHER, ST. GERTRUDE THE GREAT, LOS ANGELES, CA
Fit Kids Conversations
How Do Pro Sports Teams Impact Youth?
June 19, 2024
Trennis Jones, VP, Community Impact for Major League Soccer’s Austin FC, brings it in this Fit Kids Conversation, explaining how his team’s programs meld sports, fitness, and life lessons to benefit youth.
Insights from a Lineage Medicine Pioneer
May 15, 2024
Nisha Devi founded Kala Wellness to grow the use of Lineage Medicine, including its movement components, such as yoga and qigong. Nisha explains the meaning behind the medicine, how it helps, her path to her practice, and Kala Wellness’ new partnership with Fit Kids.
Move Your Body, Calm Your Mind
April 22, 2024
Jessica Byers — Executive Director of the Governor’s Advisory Council on Physical Fitness and Mental Well-Being — explains how the Council impacts the health of Californians by rallying government, celebrity athletes, and many organizations, including Fit Kids.
Fit Kids News
Fit Kids Strikes Largest Single School District Partnership
June 1, 2024
Fit Kids is entering into the widest-ranging school district partnership in the organization’s history, encompassing 28 schools within the Sacramento City Unified School District. All told, (3,940 summer & 3,406 school year) SCUSD students will receive the Fit Kids structured physical fitness and mindfulness program.
Fit Kids Receives Largest-Ever Grant
May 1, 2024
Through the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI), Fit Kids has been awarded the largest grant in the organization’s history: $745,000 to provide a special early intervention program at one Fit Kids Program Site, Belle Haven Elementary School, in the 2024-25 school year.
The Grammy-winning, Internationally Acclaimed Los Lobos to Perform at Menlo Park Benefit Concert for Fit Kids
February 15, 2024
Non-profit’s landmark benefit concert featuring Grammy-award-winning Mexican-American rock band Los Lobos. The high-energy event will take place at Menlo Park’s Guild Theatre on Thursday, February 29, 2024.
Fit Kids’ Ashley Hunter on Move to Live®More Podcast
February 7, 2024
Dr. Amy Bantham recently interviewed Ashley Hunter as a guest on the Move to Live More podcast. On the episode titled “Learning the Language of Movement” Ashley covered everything from the Fit Kids origin story to addressing the fitness opportunity gap.