Sacramento Kings, Mayor Kevin Johnson and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Announce Results of the ‘Kid Power’ Pilot Program

Sacramento, Calif. – Today, the Sacramento Kings, the City of Sacramento and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF announced the conclusion and results of the UNICEF Kid Power pilot program. Launched on October 6, the month-long pilot program leveraged 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.

After four weeks of active engagement in Sacramento schools, the pilot program resulted in enough therapeutic food to help nearly 500 severely malnourished children receive a full course of lifesaving treatment. The results and trial of the pilot in Sacramento serves as a model for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to implement Kid Power across the country to get kids active to save thousands of lives across the globe.

“I believe it’s really important for kids to learn at a young age to be healthy, and understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. In addition to a healthy lifestyle, it’s also important for them to learn the value of service and giving back, which are both uniquely captured in this program,” said Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson. “Through its trial run in Sacramento, the ‘Kid Power’ program had a momentous impact on students, teachers and administrators, and we hope this will set the standard for other communities across the country.”

Throughout October, the innovative UNICEF Kid Power program engaged nearly 900 Sacramento-area students, teachers and teaching assistants at six different Sacramento-region schools to test the potential of the UNICEF Kid Power program on physical activity and education of global issues. Students earned Kid Power Points by engaging in physical activities such as walking, running, and playing outdoor games, and their activity was monitored by a Kid Power wristband that counted the numbers of steps taken and the amount of time active. Each Kid Power Point earned converted to one packet of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food, a protein-rich peanut paste packed with vitamins and minerals that is used to save the lives of children with severe acute malnutrition, a deadly condition if left untreated. UNICEF is the world’s largest purchaser and distributor of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food.

During its run in Sacramento, UNICEF Kid Power Pilot highlights include:

“We are thrilled to see that through this innovative program, Sacramento students and teachers were able to experience the benefits of healthy living and recognize the importance of giving back,” said Kings President Chris Granger. “Education and awareness are key to long-term change, and together with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and the City of Sacramento, we are committed to being a part of that positive change for not only Sacramento, but for the entire global community.” 

“In this Thanksgiving season, it’s great to see Sacramento’s children taking action on behalf of the children of the world. We’re excited to see that the Kid Power program was successful. Thanks to these Sacramento participants, more children’s lives will be saved,” said U.S. Fund for UNICEF President and CEO Caryl M. Stern. “We’re looking to replicate this program in cities across the country and are grateful to the City of Sacramento, the Kings, and all the teachers, students and parents who got involved in helping malnourished children get the treatment they need to survive and thrive.”

Throughout the program, the Sacramento Kings provided incentives to encourage kids to stay active, including:

For more information, please visit www.unicefkidpower.org.