Work to Play Program
This project's parent organization is Urban Initiatives
It operates in United States
It uses Football (Soccer)
Entered the Sport for Health Award
More about Work to Play Program
The prevalence of childhood obesity in Chicago is alarming. According to the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago’s Children, 19 percent of children nationally between the ages of 6 and 11 are obese, but in the city of Chicago 28 percent of children between the ages of 10 and 13 are obese. Incredibly, the prevalence of childhood obesity can reach up to 51 percent in Chicago communities with similar demographics to those Urban Initiatives serves. In an effort to prevent childhood obesity, Urban Initiatives' Work to Play Program--a health and education soccer program--is designed to get children living an active and healthy lifestyle. In order to participate in the program, students agree to strive for excellence both on and off the soccer field.
This program uses a child’s natural love of sports, namely soccer, to provide whole-child youth development opportunities, and we invite students at the school sites we serve to join our free, fun-based soccer program regardless of skill level. Urban Initiatives' objective is to prevent students in the communities we serve from becoming either overweight or obese, and soccer, combined with nutrition education and healthy snacks, is a great means to tackle childhood obesity.