SCHENECTADY, N.Y., July 15 /PRNewswire/ -- MVP Health Care is partnering with U.S. Olympic Soccer star Abby Wambach to help youth soccer players throughout the Northeast Take on Life and Live Well as part of a new MVP Health Care youth sports initiative called KidPower.
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Wambach, a Rochester, N.Y. native who scored the game-winning goal in the Gold Medal game of the 2004 Olympics, and who will represent her country again this year on the 2008 U.S. Olympic team next month in Beijing, will conduct a series of live appearances at youth soccer clinics in New York state, Vermont and New Hampshire after the Olympics. Locations, dates and times for the clinics, which will be sponsored by MVP Health Care, will be announced later this year.
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As part of the KidPower program, MVP Health Care and its operating subsidiary Preferred Care have launched KidPower Web sites (http://www.MVPKidPower.com) and (http://www.PCKidPower.com) that feature video clips of Wambach offering soccer tips as well as advice on how to develop and stick to a healthy lifestyle.
As the youngest of seven, Ms. Wambach competed with her older siblings to become the super star athlete she is today. Now she is partnering with MVP Health Care, showing kids how to compete, be strong, have fun, and stay healthy.
"I decided from the very beginning that I wanted to work with companies that I morally agreed with. MVP and Preferred Care were a perfect fit," said Wambach. "Being a part of a company that has the same beliefs that I do makes it easy to promote their programs and makes me feel like I'm promoting part of who I am," she said.
"The purpose of KidPower is to reach kids with a strong message about living a healthy lifestyle, staying fit, and making healthy choices in a way that is fun through activities that many kids enjoy like soccer," said David W. Oliker, MVP Health Care president and CEO. "Kids listen to Abby Wambach when she is talking about soccer and when she talks about living well," Oliker said.
MVP Health Care is committed to helping kids recognize the importance and fun of a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise and making good food choices. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 16 percent of all children and teens in the United States are overweight. Additionally, an American Heart Association study found that 23 percent of children don't get any exercise outside of school. Being overweight and not getting enough exercise increase the risk for serious cardiovascular and other diseases throughout childhood and into adulthood.
"Living well starts when you are a kid. If you make a choice to live a healthy life and to live well, the empowerment that gives you as an adult is huge," Wambach said.
The program invites youth soccer coaches to register for a free KidPower Kit that includes: an Abby Wambach Take It On! long sleeve t-shirt, a Take It On! water bottle, an Abby Wambach poster and KidPower award certificates for the coach to give to each player.
"Our goal with the KidPower program is to help young people make a connection with a healthy, active lifestyle through great role models like Abby Wambach," said Oliker.
SOURCE MVP Health Care
