Tulsa 66ers Partner with Tulsa Health Department and Academy Sports + Outdoors to Get Kids Fit
January 11, 2010
(Tulsa, OK) The Tulsa 66ers basketball team is partnering with the Tulsa Health Department and Academy Sports + Outdoors to encourage elementary students to increase their physical activity and ultimately improve their health. Tulsa 66ers Head Coach Nate Tibbetts, team players, and Reggie Ivey, Interim Director of the Tulsa Health Department will tip off the campaign at Greeley Elementary in the Tulsa Public Schools district on Tuesday, January 12th at 10:00 a.m. Greeley Elementary is located at 105 East 63rd Street North in Tulsa. Coach Tibbetts and the players will share with the students the importance of being healthy and what they can do to win prizes for being physically active.
"We are extremely thankful to be involved with this worthwhile program, as part of the overall initiative of the NBA to encourage kids to be physically active." 66ers President Jim Brylweski said. "It is the Tulsa 66ers goal to be champions of our community both on and off the court."
A recent report ranked Oklahoma as having the sixth highest rate of adult obesity. Another study found that 66.6% of adults in Oklahoma are overweight or obese.
"We are very excited to partner with the Tulsa 66ers and Academy Sports + Outdoors on this important issue. It is critical that we do all we can to develop healthy habits at a young age." stated Interim Tulsa Health Department Director Reggie Ivey.
The Get Fit 66 Challenge is offered to all Tulsa County children in grades 1st - 5th. Children can participate by completing weekly activity logs and turning them in for a chance to win weekly prizes. Prizes range from a bicycle to tickets to 66ers games and items such as frisbees, jump ropes, and water bottles. Children can begin submitting their weekly activity logs this Friday, January 15th either to their school if their school site is participating or to Academy Sports + Outdoors or Tulsa Health Department locations. Activity logs have been distributed to area schools or students can download activity logs at www.tulsaplay.org. At the end of the 66 day challenge, the top three schools with the most participation will each win a shopping spree at Academy Sports and Outdoors for school sports equipment.
Additionally, the Tulsa 66ers will host a Get Fit 66 Challenge Night at their January 16th home game vs. the Erie Bayhawks at 7:00 p.m. at the Tulsa Convention Center. The school that has the most representation at the game will receive a visit from a Tulsa 66ers basketball team member to their school.
For more information contact Jawan Smith at 918-585-8444 or jsmith@tulsa66ers.com.
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