On Wednesday, September 23, the 2015 NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, Kaiser Permanente and learning and physical-health nonprofit Playworks visited Oakland’s Lincoln Elementary School for a Get Fit Time-Out to stress the importance of healthy eating and active living. Joining the three Oakland-based organizations was Warriors Guard Brandon Rush, who made a surprise visit with the Warriors Larry O’Brien NBA Championship trophy to speak to the 240 fourth and fifth-grade students on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle year-round.
“I make sure to exercise and work on basketball every single day, eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and stay away from junk food,” said Rush.
Joined by KPIX/CBS-5 Weather Anchor Roberta Gonzales, the seven-year NBA veteran joined Kaiser Permanente Internal Medicine Doctor Nailah Thompson and Playworks Executive Director Nathaniel Foster to share tips with the students and encourage healthy choices and behaviors.
“As an NBA player I have to challenge myself every day, keep a strict diet and train hard to play my best on the court,” said Rush. “Whatever sport you play, or even playing for fun, you have to eat right to feel great and healthy.”
After the Q&A and a recitation of the Get Fit pledge, the students split into four groups across the Lincoln Elementary playground for a variety of health and wellness activities. The boys and girls participated in a basketball clinic with Warriors Youth Basketball staff, a dance clinic led by Warriors Jr. Jam Choreographer Alan Fras, a nutrition seminar with Dr. Thompson and a yoga session with a Kaiser Permanente Yoga Instructor.
“This is a really valuable time to connect with students, because older elementary students are able to understand what is good for their bodies and why, and then put those lessons into action,” said Dr. Thompson. “By learning that high-sugar drinks and fattening snacks are bad for their bodies, they are setting themselves up for a healthy school year.”
The Kaiser Permanente and Playworks curriculum will also be available online at warriors.com/getfit to highlight good nutrition as well as safe and fair play.
“It’s wonderful that the Warriors, Kaiser [Permanente] and Playworks can visit our school and teach our students these lessons,” said Lincoln Elementary Fifth-Grade Teacher Barbara Eckland. “It’s great that the lessons we teach in our classes are reinforced by an NBA Champion.”
Through the Warriors’ new partnership with national nonprofit Playworks, the Get Fit Time-Out program will reach 60,000 students at 111 Bay Area elementary schools this season. Playworks is the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children’s social and emotional health.
“We’re excited to partner with our Oakland neighbors at Golden State and Kaiser Permanente to connect with young students in our community to highlight the importance of healthy life choices as well as safe and engaging play time,” said Foster.
All participating Lincoln Elementary School students received a Warriors Get Fit Time-Out t-shirt, Warriors gift bag and a healthy snack, courtesy of Kaiser Permanente.
This is final event of the team’s annual Back to School in the Bay initiative held at Bay Area schools every September to help raise awareness about the importance of education.