Fitness key to children's well-being
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 San Jose - Helping children to be
healthier is a matter of life and death, Jake Steinfeld, chairman of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, told a crowd of thousands at the California State PTA Convention on Friday.
"Researchers across the world are in agreement that, if things don't drastically change, this generation of children will be the first in history to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents," Steinfeld said. "I am not willing to let that happen in California. I know that in order for us to win this fight against childhood obesity and physical inactivity that all of us - elected officials and volunteer leaders like me, parents, teachers and everyday citizens - need to work together to encourage our children to be physically active and to eat well."
The Governor's council has developed Spotlight Awards to honor those who work to make sure that children live more healthily. This year, there's a new award that will single out a parent association that makes strides in encouraging student fitness at a California school. The prize includes $10,000 to promote the winning program.
"If we stick together and never quit, I'm 100 percent confident we can restore the rosy hue to our children's cheeks and the golden glow to our state's future," Steinfeld said.
Steinfeld started the Don't Quit! Foundation in 1998 to support and educate adolescents about the value of physical fitness. In 2005, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger named Steinfeld to chair the California Gvoernor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Steinfeld's speech was delivered during an afternoon session of the 110th annual convention of the California State PTA, which has nearly 1 million volunteer members and is the oldest and largest volunteer organization advocating on behalf of the health and well-being of children and families. At the convention, which runs through Sunday morning, thousands of PTA members and delegates vote on resolutions, elect officers, attend workshops, award presentations and hear from a range of inspiring speakers.
For more information, visit the Convention Page on the California State PTA website, www.capta.org.
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everychild.onevoice.
The California State PTA has nearly 1 million members throughout
the state working on behalf of public schools, children and families, with the
motto, "Every child, one voice." The PTA is the nation's oldest, largest
and highest profile volunteer organization working to improve the education,
health and welfare of all children and youth. The PTA also advocates at
national, state and local levels for education and family issues. The PTA is
nonprofit, nonsectarian and noncommercial.
For more information about the California State PTA, visit www.capta.org.
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