Sacramento, Calif. – Today, the City of Sacramento and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF teamed up with the Sacramento Kings to announce the launch of a new pilot program, UNICEF Kid Power. The month-long initiative will leverage the power of technology and philanthropy to educate and promote student fitness in the Sacramento region, while helping UNICEF deliver therapeutic food to severely malnourished children around the world.
UNICEF Kid Power will engage six local schools and 850 Sacramento-area students and their teachers to test, measure and analyze this innovative approach to physical activity and education on global issues.
Through Kid Power, students will earn Kid Power Points by engaging in physical activities such as walking, running, and playing outdoor games. Their activity will be monitored by a Kid Power wristband that displays the number of steps taken, amount of time active and number of points earned towards a goal of five points per day. Program sponsors such as the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF will convert students’ points into monetary donations to help UNICEF procure and deliver therapeutic food to malnourished kids worldwide. Each Kid Power Point earned will convert to one packet of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food, a miracle peanut paste that is used to save the lives of children with severe acute malnutrition, a deadly condition if left untreated.
“Making sure our children are active and healthy is vital to their success in school and beyond,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. “As the program���s pilot city, Sacramento is proud to have the opportunity to work with the Kings and UNICEF to actively engage our schools and our students in this innovative program combining personal fitness goals and giving back to those in need. We hope this program will set a precedent for schools across the country to follow.”
“This program is an amazing way to not only encourage active and healthy lifestyles, but more importantly, to engage our teachers and students in fighting the global malnutrition crisis,” said Kings President Chris Granger. “With its positive impact on both our local community and on children across the globe, this initiative really speaks to what Vivek’s NBA 3.0 philosophy is all about.”
“One in four kids worldwide is malnourished, which means they are more likely to get sick from ordinary infections and their brain development can suffer. If left untreated, the condition can be deadly,” said U.S. Fund for UNICEF CEO and President Caryl M. Stern. “The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is proud to work with Mayor Johnson, the Sacramento Kings and the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF to empower kids in Sacramento to save the lives of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition worldwide.“
The 30-day Kid Power pilot program will kick off October 6, with the Sacramento Kings providing rewards to encourage kids to stay active, including:
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All participants and teachers will receive a ticket to a Sacramento Kings home game on Sunday, November 30, where the most physically active school will receive a special recognition.
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The top three physically active schools will receive a surprise visit by the Kings.
- For a full list of incentives, download the UNICEF Kid Power Incentives PDF.
For a full list of incentives, please visit www.unicefkidpower.org