ING Run For Something Better School Awards Program in Partnership with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education
Get Your School Involved!
Research shows that physical activity improves self esteem, school performance and overall well being of children. Great reasons to get our kids active at school!
ING Run For Something Better (ING RFSB), in partnership with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE), is providing a minimum of fifty (50) $2,000 grants to schools planning to establish a school-based running program or expand an existing one.
Qualifying is easy…
Because the ING RFSB school-based running program is so flexible, it's easy for elementary or middle schools to qualify. Start with at least 25 fourth grade to eighth grade students ready to commit, and you're ready to go!
The program can be as short as eight (8) weeks or as long as you want it to be. And it can happen in physical education class, during recess, before school, after school or any combination of these. Remember, the grant isn't meant to fund existing athletic programs; rather, it's all about reaching any and every child who wants to get active. With that in mind, the program at your school can be facilitated by a physical education teacher, coach, classroom teacher or school administrator – whatever works for your school.
If your school already has a running program, simply choose to use an ING Run For Something Better customized program alongside your current running program or alone, as long as it meets our basic criteria. View the 2010 School Award Application for more details and to start the application process.
Getting results
While we know this program is effective, it's important to collect statistical information that will give us a greater understanding of the benefits. To help make this running fitness program the best possible experience, all students will take part in the Cardiovascular FITNESSGRAM PACER pre and post test. Results are turned in anonymously to NASPE for evaluation.
Here's to happy endings…
The program's culminating running event can be any distance – such as 1 mile or a 5K (3.1 mile) event – held during school, after school or on a weekend day (and include families and community members). It's meant to be personalized to meet the needs of the school. It's yours to run with – go for it!
Extra $500 Bonus!
As an added bonus, all 2010 grant winners can have a chance at an additional $500 bonus grant by entering our video competition. Schools simply need to submit a video of the program in action in their school. Ten bonus grant winners will be chosen from our 2010 grant winners and the footage they submit will be showcased for all to see on the ING RFSB website! It's more fun and more funds! And a great way to show off the achievements of students!
Ready, set, go!
While the program is available to schools in all 50 states and DC, it is limited to no more than five recipients per state. So if you are ready to make an impact on the lives of your students through healthy lifestyle changes, then step up to the starting line! 2010 School Award Application
Benefits
Running is a great physical activity for promoting good health and self-confidence. It helps build strong bones and muscles, contributes to fitness, and lends itself to personal goal-setting and personal best accomplishments. Furthermore, running is a low-cost activity that requires very little equipment. All that is really needed is adequate running shoes, comfortable clothes, a safe place to run (e.g., school field, sidewalk, jogging path), water, and a positive attitude!
Thank you NASPE/ING Run For Something Better School Awards Program applicants! Applications are currently in the review process. Schools will be notified by NASPE by September 1, 2010 if they have received an award.
Partnering to fight childhood obesity
ING Run For Something Better has partnered with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) to increase physical activity in students and help fight childhood obesity nationwide through the creation of school-based running fitness programs.
Running fitness program activity plans are created by NASPE and based on the National Standards for Physical Education.
To ensure impartiality, NASPE will manage the 2010 school awards program for ING.