LAS VEGAS, Nev., Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MGM Resorts
International (NYSE: MGM) and the Jared Foundation announced plans
to work toward expanding a program that addresses chronic weight
and obesity issues among children living in the region.
"We are what we eat and the United
States is facing a widely-documented crisis and epidemic,"
said Jim Murren, Chairman & CEO
of MGM Resorts International at the announcement of the expansion
of the Coordinated Approach to Childhood Health in Las Vegas.
"CATCH transforms a child's environment, culture and society by
coordinating child health efforts across all aspects of the
educational experience: classroom, food services, physical
education, and family. CATCH adds healthy eating and physical
activity to the school environment and drives the message home to
parents through family and community outreach," said Jared Fogle, a healthy eating advocate and
spokesperson for SUBWAY® restaurants.
Murren and Fogle announced a fundraising campaign of
$235,000. MGM Resorts International
has donated an initial $25,000 to
help broaden the program.
CATCH has been recognized and recommended by the National
Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation among other organizations.
It focuses on addressing the issues of childhood obesity by
transforming a child's environment by coordinating child health
efforts across all aspects of the educational experience:
classroom, food services, physical education, and family.
CATCH has been implemented in 132 after-school sites in
Southern Nevada since 2010,
serving 7000 children daily with physical activity and nutrition
lessons. A federal obesity prevention grant allowed Southern Nevada
Health District to bring CATCH training and programming to four
parks and recreation departments and after school program sites in
Boulder City, North Las Vegas, the Cities of Las Vegas and Henderson, and the YMCA of Southern Nevada.
About MGM Resorts
MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) is one of the world's
leading global hospitality companies, operating a peerless
portfolio of destination resort brands, including Bellagio, MGM
Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. For more information about MGM
Resorts International, visit the Company's website at
www.mgmresorts.com.
About the Jared Foundation
Established in 2004 by SUBWAY® restaurants spokesman
Jared Fogle, the Jared Foundation's
mission is to eliminate childhood obesity. As a leader in the
movement to help children learn life-long healthy diet and exercise
habits, the Jared Foundation strives to raise awareness and develop
programs that educate and inspire kids to live healthier, happier
lives. It develops easy-to-use tools that encourage kids to
exercise and eat healthy, supports parents, schools and community
organizations with educational programs and materials and forms
strategic partnerships with influential organizations that will
advance our mission through the development and application of
programs that address Childhood Obesity.
SOURCE MGM Resorts International