12.14.2004 ET

(CSRwire) WASHINGTON, DC - Today 15-year-old U.S. National Team and D.C. United soccer player Freddy Adu, along with U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, D.C. Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton and other community leaders, met with kids at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington to launch the NikeGO Afterschool program.

In partnership with SPARK (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids), NikeGO Afterschool brings best practice physical activity programs to kids in after-school programs at Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs, local Parks & Recreation and other facilities. Beginning in D.C., NikeGO Afterschool will soon also launch programs in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles, in a total of 42 sites, serving 12,000 kids nationally.

"The benefits of physical activity for children are well-researched, yet many school districts have reduced the time students spend in physical education (PE) classes," said Molly White, Director for U.S. Community Affairs for Nike. "We at NikeGO see after-school programs as an additional opportunity for kids to accumulate the physical activity minutes they need, and have designed a program to help kids be more active and lead healthier, happier lives."

"We're seeing a continued culture in our nation that includes unhealthful eating and little or no exercise. If today's kids are to grow up to be a healthy generation of Americans, we need to get them started down the path to health now," U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona said. "In an environment where resources are limited, it's encouraging to see members of corporate America step up and find ways to help kids in communities exercise. I congratulate and thank NikeGO Afterschool for their commitment to our nation's youth and our nation's health."

A member of the U.S. U-20 National Team and Major League Soccer's D.C. United team, Freddy Adu, who is the national spokesperson for the NikeGO Afterschool program, was on hand to assist SPARK trainers in the physical activity session for kids at the Boys & Girls Club.

"I was lucky that I grew up in a neighborhood, both in Ghana and here in the States, where each day I could play soccer every chance I got," said Adu. "As a kid, being active and playing around is an important part of your childhood and I learned first-hand how much it can help you in keeping your body and mind healthy. I am happy to be part of NikeGO Afterschool so the kids in my hometown of Washington, D.C., and other cities will also benefit from being active and having fun."

To provide more physical activity to children and adolescents ages 5-14, NikeGO Afterschool and SPARK are providing community after-school instructors with the tools they need to lead physical activity sessions that are inclusive, developmentally appropriate and fun. In addition to the training and lesson plans from SPARK, NikeGO donates equipment kits of Nike products, valued at more than $10,000.

"Our nation is plagued with public health issues related to childhood obesity and inactivity," said Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC). "NikeGO Afterschool is an excellent example of how businesses and communities can work together to provide healthy lifestyles for kids. I thank NikeGO Afterschool for their contribution to Washington, D.C."

"At the Boys & Girls Club, we are dedicated to offering positive places for kids. We applaud NikeGO Afterschool for assisting us in providing fun, physical activities," said Patricia Shannon, President and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Washington. "Having Freddy Adu as part of NikeGO Afterschool helps inspire the kids and we really enjoyed welcoming him as an official member of our clubs."

In addition to launching the NikeGO Afterschool program in D.C., NikeGO also announced the donation of a FieldTurf mini soccer field that will be made available for Washington D.C., kids to use. The field is made possible by joint donation of approximately $100,000 from NikeGO and FieldTurf. This high-performance, low-maintenance soccer field incorporates Nike Grind material made from byproduct (or what was once waste) from the manufacturing of new Nike footwear outsoles. The field will allow hundreds of kids of all ages the opportunity to play soccer on a world-class field.

About NikeGO
NikeGO is Nike's signature U.S. community affairs initiative and the company's long-term commitment to getting kids more physically active. The program's mission is to increase physical activity in youths, offering them the support and motivation to become physically active, stay healthy and have fun. In its most recent fiscal year, Nike contributed more than $10.5 million in cash and products and served more than 150,000 kids through its programs and partnerships. Visit NikeGo.com for additional information.

About SPARK
SPARK (Sports, Play and Active Recreation for Kids) is a research-based organization dedicated to creating, implementing, and evaluating programs that promote lifelong wellness. Visit www.sparkpe.org or call 1-800SPARKPE or e-mail: spark@sparkpe.org.

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