Children’s Obesity Fund Supports Pound Patrol Classes for Minority Youth in Lake County, Illinois
(PRWEB) May 07, 2014 -- The Children’s Obesity Fund, cofounded by Julian Omidi and Dr. Michael Omidi, is helping to fund Pound Patrol classes offered by the Family First Center of Lake County in Waukegan, Illinois. The Center offers a variety of health programs that help fight children’s obesity within the impoverished, minority families living in the local community. Pound Patrol classes meet weekly throughout the summer to provide education, support and accountability to help participants lose pounds and maintain a healthy weight.
“Lake County Illinois is a severely underserved community with more than 50,000 families living below the poverty level, and another 90,000 at risk of falling into the same economic situation,” according to Children’s Obesity Fund cofounder Julian Omidi. “It is well established that these dire financial conditions put families at risk with unhealthy living conditions. The Family First Center is an oasis to a struggling community in need and we are happy to help sponsor their Pound Patrol class which assists young people and their families to make healthier food and exercise choices.”
Weekly Pound Patrol classes provide support, accountability, and education to help participants lose pounds and then maintain their optimum weight. All programs and services of the Family First Fitness Center are free to the public. The mission is to provide community residents with an opportunity for good health regardless of their ability to pay. Responding to the needs of the local community, the focus is on preventing high blood pressure, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. The Fitness Center is open six days a week and features a fully equipped gym with a cardio area, personal trainers, and group fitness classes such as aerobics, Zumba, hip hop salsa, and body toning.
The Family First Center also offers a Wellness for Life program that helps to reduce the health disparities in minority communities by improving access to healthcare systems and community resources through education, prevention, and chronic disease management.
The Family First Center of Lake County (http://www.family1stcenter.org) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) faith-based organization established in 2002 to provide intervention and prevention services in Lake County, Illinois. The Center was founded by two prominent local leaders – a congressman and a minister -- in response to repeated acts of violence and unrest in the area. Its mission is to nurture, educate, and provide opportunities within the community by placing emphasis on rebuilding the family, repairing division, and developing strategies to empower change to create a strong family support system.
Serving over 7,000 people every month, the Center offers support services such as: fitness training, nutrition seminars; resume building; tutoring sessions; arts, crafts and drama classes; and assistance with housing, food and utilities. These enrichment activities help prepare individuals to be more competitive in today’s society.
Cofounded by Julian Omidi and Dr. Michael Omidi, the Children’s Obesity Fund (http://www.childrensobesityfund.org) hopes to help reverse the trend of rising obesity rates in America. The goal of the non-profit charity is to help people fully understand the obesity issue and its dire impacts on individuals and society as a whole -- and to use that knowledge to encourage children to grow up strong and healthy. Children’s Obesity Fund partners with other organizations to educate and support parents, educators and others so that we can all work together to raise healthy, active, social, and happy children. While the organization does not accept donations, it does encourage direct contributions of money and talents to the associations featured on our website. Children’s Obesity Fund is on Facebook as well as Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Julian Omidi, Children's Obesity Fund, http://www.childrensobesityfund.org/, +1 (855) 550-3200, [email protected]
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