CATCH to be Featured in the Cartoon Networks National MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR

Preparing CATCH for Growth in the Next 25 Years

Over the past 25 years, CATCH has served an estimated 10,000 school and youth communities and 5 million kids with health education and programs. CATCH has developed curriculum for ages 2-15 and built an evidence base of effectiveness in obesity prevention through 130 peer-reviewed scientific studies.  

Earlier this year, we created the CATCH Global Foundation to coordinate the work of the various coalition partners who have developed and delivered the program and to position CATCH for expansion and growth in the next stage of its life.

The benefits of having a foundation include:

• easier fundraising to bring CATCH to schools and youth programs who can't afford it (the foundation expects to receive official IRS 501c3 status later this year)
• expansion to parts of the country - and the world - not covered by current CATCH partners
• a dedicated organization focused on improving, marketing and implementing CATCH
• long-term sustainability of CATCH in a publicly-owned charity

The work of the foundation will focus on matching philanthropic funds from foundations and corporations with new and follow-up implementations of CATCH in schools and youth programs. We will also do marketing, training and evaluation. 

The CATCH Global Foundation has four founding board members.

Dr. Steve Kelder, PhD MPH, is an original co-creator of CATCH, Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology at the University of Texas School of Public Health, Co-Director of the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, and world-renowned child health expert with specialties in tobacco control, physical activity promotion and nutrition education. As a board member of the CATCH Global Foundation, Steve will provide scientific oversight and be a liaison between the foundation and the University of Texas.

Duncan Van Dusen, MPH, will serve as the initial Executive Director of the CATCH Global Foundation. He is a social entrepreneur with over 20 years of leadership experience in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors. Prior to working with CATCH, he co-founded Tango Health to help employers and individuals adapt to the new world of consumer-driven health care. He has authored scientific studies on child health and worked as an advocate for public health and child welfare.  

Peter Cribb, M.Ed, has been CATCH Program Director for 22 years and has organized and led thousands of CATCH implementations around the country. His experience ranges from designing and coordinating project plans and timelines, to organizing and leading training and follow-up monitoring sessions, to supporting CATCH Champions, to promoting CATCH to administrators, staff, teachers and communities. As a board member, he will also coordinate relationships with the many collaborative partners that make CATCH so successful.

Dr. Eduardo Sanchez, MD MPH, is Deputy Chief Scientific Officer of the American Heart Association. He was formerly Texas State Health Commissioner and Chief Medical Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has special expertise and concern working with populations at risk for chronic disease. As a board member, he will help expand CATCH's visibility within the public health community.

Questions about the new CATCH foundation can be directed to Duncan Van Dusen at dvd@catchglobalfoundation.org. 

We welcome your input!