A Healthy Future Within Reach

Phase 2: We’re building a fresh veggie and fruit garden in Point Breeze!

With the help of Mayor Michael Nutter, Congressman Chaka Fattah, 76er Lou Williams, Eagles tight end Cornelius Ingram, Senator Larry Farnese, Autumn Adkins Graves, president of Girard College, State Representative Kenyatta Johnson, The Food Trust, and the amazing young people of the Point Breeze Performing Arts Center, the first Phase of ‘A Healthy Future Within Reach’ successfully raised awareness for childhood obesity and the lack of healthy eating options in urban areas.

We are now kicking Phase 2 of our ‘A Healthy Future Within Reach’ initiative into high gear: we’re building the garden!

BIG NEWS: WalMart Joins “A Healthy Future Within Reach” as a Major Sponsor

Walmart Stores is proud to support Stars Within Reach in raising awareness about the lack of healthy food options in urban areas and the impact this reality has on the nutrition of Philadelphia’s children and families.

In January, with the help of First Lady Michele Obama, Walmart launched a five-year plan to make its packaged food offerings lower in unhealthy salts, fats and sugars and to drop prices on fruits and vegetables.   The goal is to make food healthier and healthier foods more affordable and accessible to Walmart customers.

Walmart operates four locations in the City of Philadelphia and employs 1,200 local associates.  In 2010, Walmart gave more than $2.9 million to support Philadelphia nonprofits like the Free Library of Philadelphia, Philabundance, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Cradles to Crayons, United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, and Philly PAL.  Please visit www.walmartphiladelphia.com for more.

And here’s how you can help:

VOLUNTEER:

We are looking for volunteers to help us continue our clean-up of 1622 Point Breeze Avenue as well as to help us plant our gardens! Whether you are a gardening/landscaping expert or not, we welcome your assistance. Email us if you would like to help!

Supplies for the Clean Up have been provided by Keep Philadelphia Beautiful!

HAVE SOME FUN – Join us Sunday, June 26th (RAIN DATE):

Sunday, June 26, from 1:00pm-5:00pm, Stars Within Reach and our community partners will host a community festival at 1622-1648 Point Breeze Avenue to unveil the Stars Within Reach garden site and get the community committed to helping maintain and oversee its growth. Participants include Glaceau/Vitamin Water, Philly Pita Pit, The Food Trust, Health Partners, The Point Breeze Pioneers, and Diversified Community Services.

DONATE…WalMart is Matching Donations Dollar for Dollar!!!

As part of their sponsorship, Wal-Mart is matching each donation, dollar for dollar, up to $40,000! Help us in building and maintaining the garden with a donation of just $10, $25, or more!

Check out this message from WalMart & our other supporters!

Did you know?

• Obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2010.
• Obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.
• Obese youth are more likely to develop health problems as adults, including: heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.
• There is a nationwide effort to eradicate so-called “food deserts,” areas where healthy, affordable food is difficult to obtain.
• The state of Pennsylvania invested $30 million to get 61 supermarkets opened in rural and urban areas.

76er Lou Williams Joins Kidz Partners & Girard Collage to Provide Great Health Tips!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter & Facebook!

Throughout the month of May we will be introducing more of our Star Partners and giving away some cool prizes to our followers! Don’t miss out!