NFL Network Tackles Youth Fitness With New National Initiative to 'Keep Gym ...( Program Includes Partnerships with...),Health

Program Includes Partnerships with NFL teams, Cox Communications, The President's Challenge and National Association for Sport and Physical

Education Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints and Washington

Redskins Lend Support to Keep Gym in School

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- NFL Network is launching Keep Gym in School, a national initiative dedicated to supporting physical education in America's schools and raising awareness about the importance of physical activity as part of education. The announcement was made today by Kim Williams, COO of NFL Network.

In its first year, Keep Gym in School is funding refurbishments for Physical Education programs at select schools, hosting NFL minicamps to get kids active and assess their fitness levels. Students will participate in follow up testing to determine the local performers who will earn trips to a National Honors Event held during the 2009 NFL Draft week. Keep Gym in School has created a series of football-inspired lesson plans and a fitness assessment program in collaboration with the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE). The initiative is also incorporating the President's Challenge, a physical activity and fitness recognition program of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and creating the "Keep Gym in School President's Challenge" program.

NFL Network is rolling out the program with Cox Communications in Fairfax County, Virginia; Wichita, Kansas; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Phoenix, Arizona. NFL teams supporting Keep Gym in School in its first year are the Washington Redskins, Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals. Participating NFL players include: Redskins wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, Chiefs linebacker Donnie Edwards and former guard Will Shields, Saints running back Deuce McAllister and Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner.