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United Way of Metropolitan Nashville Joins Community Effort To Tackle Obesity Epidemic
October 18, 2011United Way’s Women United in Giving, a group of community leaders, announces Nov. 2 luncheon; Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam to speak
NASHVILLE, Tenn., Oct. 13, 2011—United Way of Metropolitan Nashville is aiming to shrink the growing obesity problem in the community through an innovative initiative designed to bring healthy lifestyles to Nashville’s neediest neighborhoods.
United Way’s Women United in Giving – a group of community leaders committed to making a greater impact in the city – has launched a new initiative called Family Teaching Kitchens to help tackle obesity at its roots in Nashville.
St. Luke’s Community House, the site of a United Way Family Resource Center, was selected to host the first Family Teaching Kitchen, and recently held a dinner and healthy cooking class for families in that West Nashville neighborhood.
On Nov. 2, Women United in Giving will host a fundraising luncheon called “Walk the Talk,” to call attention to the obesity problem and generate resources to support the initiative in Nashville. First Lady of Tennessee, Crissy Haslam, who serves as honorary chair of the luncheon, will be the featured speaker at the 11:30 a.m. event at Loews Vanderbilt Hotel. Amanda Farnsworth and Linda Rebrovick are co-chairs.
“I am grateful that Women United in Giving has chosen to do their part to help families improve their health through nutritional cooking, exercise, and wellness,” said Haslam. “As I focus on encouraging families to be invested in their child’s education, an important part of that message is that leading a healthy lifestyle starts kids off on the right foot in school.”
In Tennessee, one of the ten most obese states in the U.S., 30.8 percent of the population is obese. Last year, Tennessee was tied for the second “fattest state” in the nation according to a report from the Trust for America’s Health. In Nashville/Davidson County there is a 30 percent obesity rate, according to Centers for Disease Control. Nationwide, nearly one-third of U.S. adults (33.8 percent) and approximately 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years old are obese, according to the CDC.
“Obesity is a critical problem in the community, across the state and throughout the nation,” said Amanda Farnsworth. “Our Women United in Giving Family Teaching Kitchens will bring healthy living habits to our city’s most vulnerable citizens.”
The Family Teaching Kitchens concept uses volunteers and includes:
• Regular healthy cooking classes taught by a trained chef
• Nutrition and wellness information taught by a nutritionist
• Exercise tips provided by a fitness expert.
The Women United in Giving Family Teaching Kitchens initiative aims to provide help to nearly 420 families across the city, representing about 2,000 people annually. Children and youth in Nashville’s most vulnerable neighborhoods would be a key thrust of the initiative – cultivating a healthy, nutrition-conscious culture in the next generation. For more information about the Women United in Giving “Walk the Talk” luncheon click here. For information about corporate support, contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) at 615.780.2403.
The initiative highlights how the many facets of United Way of Metropolitan Nashville are at work in the community. United Way recently launched its 2011 communitywide impact campaign with an ambitious goal of raising more funds than last year to address the community’s top priorities and invest to improve the lives of the city’s most vulnerable in the midst of a challenging economy.
About United Way of Metropolitan Nashville
United Way of Metropolitan Nashville seeks to impact the education, financial stability and health of Nashvillians through partnerships, innovation and return on investment. Last year the organization produced a direct and identifiable impact of $50 million through its 2-1-1 Helpline, Family Resource Centers, Read to Succeed Program, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, Restore The Dream Partnership and Outcome-Based Investments. For more information about how United Way of Metropolitan Nashville is positively impacting the Nashville community, visit: http://www.unitedwaynashville.org.
