Take One Step Outreach Grantees

Thanks to the generous support of GlaxoSmithKline, CPB and PBS, 15 stations have been awarded grants for their outreach efforts. We were very pleased to see that the programs stations have designed are as inspiring as they are diverse. They are also targeted to very specific populations and have well-defined goals that will offer measurable results.

Activities targeting Preschool and School Age Children

WFSU in Tallahassee, Florida, wants to get their community’s kids moving, learning, and having healthy fun. Their project will employ technology to encourage tweens” at local Boys and Girls clubs, schools, and after-school programs to hit the street for active exploration, supplying GPS units with pre-programmed scavenger hunts.  These “wired hikes” will keep kids on the move for 40-60 minutes, encouraging exploration, activity, and camaraderie.

WCMU in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan is reaching out to elementary schools in the Alpena school district, encouraging teachers to mix a little physical activity in with their student’s daily reading, writing and arithmetic!  WCMU will offer resources to help these educators add exercise into their regular classroom curriculum, aiming to have at least five instructors incorporating physical activity into their lesson plans twice a day.

KLRN in San Antonio, Texas is getting local “tweens” to ramp up their downtime!   One hundred middle school students in this largely Latino community, many of whom are currently physically inactive, will receive the guidance and encouragement they need to swap out one sedentary hour with sixty minutes of physical activity.  After three months, KLRN hopes to see 50% of these students enjoying two hours of weekly exercise for the next six months (and possibly for a lifetime!).

Activities targeting the Family

KTOO in Juneau, Alaska will lend a hand to Greuning Park Neighborhood parents with young children, giving them fun and easy tips on getting active and eating healthily. Ultimately, KTOO would like to see these busy moms and dads enjoy three 30-minute exercise times with their kids, and will offer them the know-how and cheerleading required to make this goal a reality.

PBS Hawaii wants to foster family-style healthy living in their community. Their program will encourage local families to commit to twelve weeks of physical activity, aiming for 30-minute exercise sessions three times a week. A special web site will contain an online tracking program, and will suggest dynamic activities, cool family outings, and tasty snack ideas.

WGCU in Fort Myers, Florida threw a community gathering called Get Up, Get Out, Get Active!  At this event, twenty families with kids ages 4-12 identified themselves as non-exercisers during the previous month.  WGCU wants to energize these families, guiding them to make healthy food choices, enjoy regular exercise sessions, and keep up the good work by committing to one new positive health habit. 

WGTE in Toledo, Ohio is helping families break away from obesity-causing habits and replace them with hands-on healthy behavior.  Participants will be asked to choose from a list of 21 behaviors that they will commit to do (or refrain from doing) for 21 days.  Program leaders, knowing that juggling family and career responsibilities can be daunting, will offer guidance and encouragement, keeping in mind that a behavior faithfully performed for 21 days is likely to become a permanent change. Participants will enjoy kick-off and conclusion events, celebrating healthy habits and new knowledge!

WSKG in Binghamton, New York is reaching out to young families attending “Mom’s House,” a free childcare center for parents pursuing educational goals. Partnering with Wegman’s Market, United Health Services and Cornell Cooperative Extension, WSKG will create six workshops and two field trips focused on healthy eating and physical activity. In addition to sharing knowledge about nutrition and exercise, WSKG aims to create a group support system between Mom’s House and outside community resources.

Activities targeting the Workplace

Staff members at KAET in Tempe, Arizona want to increase physical activity during the workday. Office workers throughout the Arizona State University system will grab quick exercise breaks for 3-4 minutes every hour over a three-month period.  Their goal is to combat stress and lethargy, and increase their energy and concentration at work. At the program’s end, employees and managers will gather to measure outcomes, discuss the program, and celebrate success!

KETC in St. Louis, Missouri will partner with the American Heart Association, St. Louis University and the Family Support Council to offer health education during ten monthly staff meetings for childcare workers at the Grace Hill Head Start.  Group leaders will guide these Head Start employees, all of whom have identified themselves as non-exercisers, focusing on journaling and healthy goal setting.  In addition, KETC will create walking clubs and encourage all Grace Hill staff, from center directors to frontline day care providers, to get moving, eat well, and have fun.

Activities targeting Women

Iowa PTV will build on an existing successful program called “Lighten Up Iowa.”  This statewide initiative encourages physical activity and healthful eating, offering fun and sensible ways to achieve these good-for-you goals.  Iowa PTV wants women ages 35-60 to participate, “lightening up” this age group’s risk of obesity and heart disease.

KNME in Albuquerque, New Mexico wishes to improve the diet and exercise routines of Native American women in the Sandia Pueblo.  The station will work closely with ten families, encouraging them to exercise 90 minutes a week for three months.  Three monthly events will help participants track and celebrate their progress, and guest speakers will bring additional knowledge ad perspective to the mix.  In addition, KNME will supply the women with fitness gear like weights, jump ropes, and pedometers, outfitting them for healthy success.

WTVI in Charlotte, North Carolina is showing great heart by educating local women over 35 about increasing and maintaining their pulmonary health.  More details to come!

The University of North Carolina Center for Public Television is encouraging 150-200 women, ages 45-65, to walk their way to a decreased heart disease risk.  The UNC six-month walking challenge will offer online tools and on-the-go tips for women to help women track their progress, celebrate their success, and keep moving forward.