Olympians, Student-Athletes and NBA Star Tim Hardaway Lead Summer Campers in Morning Mile Presented by Avmed Health Plans
Local Companies Urged to Support Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade’s “100 for 100 Challenge”
Nearly 400 Miami-Dade Parks' summer campers gathered at Goulds Park for inspiration and exercise as part of an expanded Morning Mile program sponsored by AvMed Health Plans on June 12, 2013. Former Miami Heat point guard and five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, Olympic Coach and University of Miami Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Amy Deem, track and field student-athletes from the University of Miami, Olympic hurdler Bershawn Jackson, Fitz Koehler from Fitzness International, Pat Nelson from AvMed Health Plans and Deputy Chief of Staff Helena Sumpter from the Office of Miami-Dade County District 9 Commissioner Dennis C. Moss, shared personal stories, stretched and led the children as they embarked on the "100 for 100 Challenge" with the goal of each camper running 100 miles by summer's end.
Now available at all 42 Miami-Dade Parks' summer camps, the Morning Mile program, developed by Fitzness International, incentivizes children to get moving each morning with a run, jog or walk. Children receive collectible
As part of the "100 for 100 Challenge", local companies are encouraged to donate $100 to the non-profit Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade for each child who reaches the 100-mile milestone. Dollars are donated to the Fit2Play Scholarship Fund, matched 100-percent, and provide children in need with scholarships to attend after-school and summer camp programs.
For more information on the "100 for 100 Challenge" and how your organization can get involved, e-mail [email protected] or call 305-755-7804.
About AvMed Health Plans:
AvMed has been providing health care coverage to Florida citizens and businesses for over 40 years, serving large and small employers in most major markets around the state. AvMed provides Medicare Advantage products in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, and Individual coverage in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. For more information about AvMed, visit www.avmed.org.
About Morning Mile:
Created by Fitzness International, the Morning Mile program provides participating schools or parks with a program guidebook and everything needed to bring the exercise program to their students. The program has been so successful with nearly 150 programs in Florida, Texas, California, Louisiana, Canada and on a US Air Force Base near Tokyo, Japan, that venues around the United States and beyond have applied to participate so they can implement the program as well. A grant from AvMed provided the funding for the Morning Mile starter kits, which give parks the instructions and materials to start the program. To learn more about launching or sponsoring the program, visit www.MorningMile.com.
About The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade
The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department's efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County's world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities. For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.miamidade.gov/parks_foundation.
About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award, winner of the 2013 Florida Governor's Sustained Excellence Award and the 2009 Florida Governor's Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more. For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/.