Clark Elementary School receives grant for Project Fit America | Community Spirit

PADUCAH, KY (KFVS) - With a grant from Western Baptist Hospital, Clark Elementary School this fall will launch Project Fit America, a fitness program aimed at reducing childhood obesity. 

Clark is the fifth area school to win the $16,500 grant from Western Baptist for indoor and outdoor fitness equipment, teacher training and curriculum materials. Paducah’s McNabb Elementary and Graves County’s Central Elementary were awarded the program in 2007; Lone Oak Elementary, 2009; and Concord Elementary, 2011.    

The outdoor equipment in front of the school will be free and open, so the community may use it to get in shape.  

It is part of Western Baptist’s efforts aimed at reducing childhood obesity.

Principal Steve Ybarzabal said the school is excited to partner with Western Baptist and Project Fit America.

“Any time we partner with others in our community, it’s a good thing,” Ybarzabal said. “But when the partnership improves the lives of our students, we’re making a difference.”

Physical education teacher Jan Godwin said Project Fit provides the perfect vehicle for exercise and nutrition education for her students and their families.

“I am excited that Clark students will have a variety of opportunities, through P.E. classes, recess and after-school play, to utilize the Project Fit America equipment as an additional resource to continue to develop and maintain an exercise program to live a healthy life,” Godwin said.

Project Fit America is a national nonprofit charity that provides exemplary cardiovascular health and fitness programming to schools. Its mission is to create new opportunities for kids to be active, fit and healthy by providing vital resources and support for physical education one schoolyard at a time. For more information, visit http://www.projectfitamerica.org.

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