Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 03, 2025
American Heart Association Awards 69 Schools Wellness Grants to Combat Childhood Obesity
TLDR
- The American Heart Association's wellness grants provide schools with resources to enhance student health, potentially improving academic performance and community reputation.
- The American Heart Association awards grants to schools for physical education equipment, nutrition programs, and mental health services through structured annual application cycles.
- These grants create healthier school environments, promoting physical activity and better nutrition to combat childhood obesity and improve long-term community health.
- Children as young as nine learn Hands-Only CPR through these programs, gaining lifesaving skills while improving their own health and wellness.
Impact - Why it Matters
This initiative addresses the critical public health crisis of childhood obesity and physical inactivity, which affects one in three children and can lead to lifelong health complications including diabetes, heart disease, and reduced quality of life. By investing in school-based wellness programs, the American Heart Association is creating sustainable infrastructure that promotes healthy habits from an early age, potentially reducing future healthcare costs and improving academic performance through better physical and mental health. The program's nationwide reach ensures that children from diverse communities have access to essential health resources, making this a significant step toward health equity and long-term population health improvement.
Summary
The American Heart Association is tackling alarming childhood health statistics by awarding wellness grants to 69 schools across 37 states through its Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™ initiatives. These grants provide crucial resources for schools to address their unique health and wellness needs, including physical education equipment, playground upgrades, water filling stations, and counseling services. The program reaches more than 10 million students annually in approximately 20,000 American schools, teaching vital skills like Hands-Only CPR, nutrition, stress management, and recognizing heart attack and stroke warning signs.
Lee Shapiro, J.D., volunteer chair of the board of the American Heart Association, emphasized that "healthy living should be possible no matter where you live," highlighting how these grants support students, staff, and communities based on their specific requirements. All participating schools can apply for these grants multiple times each school year, with the complete list of awardees and project summaries available here. Schools interested in joining can sign up for the 2025–26 school year at heart.org/jointhechallenge, continuing the Association's mission to create healthier learning environments nationwide.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content disributed by NewMediaWire. Read the original source here, American Heart Association Awards 69 Schools Wellness Grants to Combat Childhood Obesity
