46 FRONTDOORS MEDIA | JULY 2018 At their core, nonprofits are created to provide an answer or solve a problem. This is true in the education space as well. Physical fitness and healthy living programs for elementary schools have increased in order to not only educate but, in many cases, provide instruction when budget cuts have meant the loss of P.E. programs altogether. I want to shine a light on three organizations providing these important lessons today. FILLING THE GAP FOR OUR KIDS OPEN DOORS { publisher’s page }

JULY 2018 | FRONTDOORS MEDIA 47 Andrea Tyler Evans PUBLISHER @AndreaTEvans JUMP ROPE FOR HEART Teaching heart health and what it means to give back Started in 1978 by a physical education teacher in Milwaukee as a way to combine physical activity and community spirit, Jump Rope for Heart became a national program for the American Heart Association in 1979. In recent years, a Hoops for Heart option has been added to the effort as a second program that uses basketball. This past year over 500 Arizona schools and more than 316,000 students participated in the annual school-day event. The kids not only learned that exercise like jumping rope and shooting hoops is good for them, the program raised more than $1.3 million to fund research and education about heart disease, still the number-one killer of all Americans. The program is offered to all schools and has resulted in many stories of kids recognizing the signs of a family member suffering from a heart-related emergency, and even performing life-saving acts. american.heart.org/jump-hoops PLAYWORKS Making recess a positive, inclusive experience for all kids Started in two Berkeley, California schools in 1996 in response to a principal’s cry for help dealing with daily bouts of fighting on the playground, Playworks is now a valued program in 1,300 schools in 23 U.S. cities, including the Phoenix area. In 2015, the Playworks Arizona program set a Guinness World Record for the world’s largest game of red light, green light. Recent school survey results show the program’s ability to prevent bullying, build leadership skills, learn problem- solving and teach empathy through the power of play. Moreover, Playworks coaches have become a valuable resource for schools that have lost full-time P.E. teachers over the years. The program is growing from 100 partner schools and youth programs to 120 in the coming school year and has become a beloved part of the elementary schoolchildren’s day. playworks.org/arizona SHAPE UP US Tackling childhood obesity across our community and beyond Former personal trainer and educator Jyl Steinback took the lead as executive director of Shape Up US in 2009 to prevent obesity and empower children and their families to lead healthier, happier lives. The organization provides teachers, children, parents and the community at large with educational tools to create lifelong healthy habits. Programs such as the Hip Hop Healthy Heart Program for Children are being used in six Arizona school districts and 15 other states. Watch for an event partnership with “American Ninja Warrior” in the Phoenix area this fall! shapeupus.org Cheers to innovation in education and healthy living! Andrea