Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada Announces New Program to Inspire Active, Healthy Youth

​HAMILTON, ON, Nov. 14, 2013 /CNW/ - A new Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada initiative will give youth in Hamilton access to workshops and programs designed to educate on the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating, and develop leadership skills.  The programs are an expansion of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada's Youth ABC (Ability to Bring Change!) initiative. The program will now include new healthy living topics relevant to youth, and was made possible by a $100,000 donation from the Coca-Cola Foundation.  The Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton is the first Club to launch the enhanced programming, available soon to Clubs across Ontario.

"Boys and Girls Clubs of Hamilton, one of the earliest and largest Clubs in Canada, is thrilled to pilot the expanded Youth ABCs initiative," said Glenn Harkness, Executive Director of Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton.   "This new program will get the youth in our community more active and healthy. It will have a positive impact on the lives of participating youth and their families, and strengthen our community as a whole."

Details of the enhanced program include:

• A "Healthy Body, Mind and Spirit" workshop that draws on the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines and Canada's Food Guide to educate youth about the benefits of physical activity and healthy eating, and model healthy living behaviours.
• A "Healthy Body, Mind and Spirit" challenge aimed at improving young people's health and wellbeing while developing young people's leadership and training skills.
• Promotion of the "Healthy Body, Mind and Spirit" training, providing Clubs with the information and tools required to reach more young people, and improve their health, wellbeing and leadership of more young people through the Initiative.
  
  

"Active, healthy, young leaders are the foundation of a strong, sustainable community," said Mayor of Hamilton Bob Bratina, "On behalf of the residents of Hamilton, I want to congratulate the Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton and the Coca-Cola Foundation for coming together to support our youth. Thank you for giving our youth the tools and knowledge they need to live healthier and more actives lives."

Coca-Cola Canada has been a long-time supporter of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada.  The work made possible by this donation will benefit more than 500 youth over the next year.

"At Coca-Cola, we believe great things can happen when people come together. We are proud to partner with The Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada to inspire healthy, active young people across Ontario," said Rich Leslie, Vice President, Field Sales, Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada. "We are looking forward to supporting the ongoing growth and success of the Youth Ability to Bring Change initiative."

About Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada

Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada is a leading charitable organization providing after school programs that support the physical, educational and social development of children, youth and their families each year. Boys and Girls Clubs operate in 650 locations across Canada and have been helping young Canadians to discover, develop and achieve their potential for over 110 years. To learn more, visit www.bgccan.com.

About The Coca-Cola Foundation

Since its inception, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded more than $500 million to support global sustainable community initiatives, including water stewardship, community recycling, active healthy living, and education. For more information about The Coca-Cola Foundation, please go to www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/the-coca-cola-foundation.

About The Coca-Cola Company

Coca-Cola in Canada operates in all ten provinces, and employs 6,300 people in more than 50 facilities, including seven production facilities across Canada. We offer a wide variety of beverage brands, many of which come in no-calorie and low-calorie options. These beverages include sparkling soft drinks, still waters, juices and fruit beverages, sports drinks, energy drinks and ready-to-drink teas. We're proud to offer some of the most popular brands in Canada including Coca-Cola®, Diet Coke®, Coca-Cola Zero®, Sprite®, Fanta®, Nestea®, PowerAde®, Minute Maid®, Dasani® and vitaminwater®. Coca-Cola in Canada is represented by Coca-Cola Refreshments Canada and Coca-Cola Ltd. For more information about our Company, please visit our website at www.livepositively.ca or www.cocacola.ca

Image with caption: "To celebrate a $100,000 grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation Rich Leslie, VP of Field Sales at Coca Cola Canada, gets the game started as a local member of The Boys and Girls Clubs of Hamilton faces off with Mayor Bob Bratina. (CNW Group/Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131114_C7397_PHOTO_EN_33372.jpg

SOURCE: Boys and Girls Club of Hamilton

Media contact:

Robyn Hunt
APEX Public Relations
416.934.2105
[email protected]