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Across Thanksgiving Weekend, NFL Encourages Kids to Get Active and Stay Healthy with NFL Play 60

Across Thanksgiving Weekend, NFL Encourages Kids to Get Active and Stay Healthy with NFL Play 60

Published 11-24-08

Submitted by National Football League (NFL)

- November 24, 2008 - Thanksgiving, a time of family and togetherness, is also a time to focus on the importance of keeping kids healthy and giving them safe places to play. In support of NFL PLAY 60, the league's youth health and fitness campaign, all Thanksgiving weekend games will raise awareness of the childhood obesity epidemic and showcase the NFL and its clubs' commitment to help reverse this trend.

NFL PLAY 60, which encourages the importance of staying active for at least 60 minutes a day, brings together the NFL's long-standing commitment to health and fitness with an impressive roster of partner organizations. Since the program was launched last year, the NFL has committed $100 million to youth health and fitness through programming, grants, and media time for public service announcements.

The Thanksgiving games will include special 90-second public service announcements featuring Lions wide receiver CALVIN JOHNSON, Eagles quarterback DONOVAN MCNABB and Cowboys linebacker DEMARCUS WARE. The PSAs were filmed at team PLAY 60 events, where players joined local children to build new places to play. They encourage fans to help fight childhood obesity during Thanksgiving week by logging onto www.NFL.com/PLAY60 to donate to organizations that support youth health and fitness.

Local youth football teams from Detroit, Dallas and Philadelphia will lead teams on-field at the start of each Thanksgiving game wearing special NFL PLAY 60 jerseys. The day's focus on youth continues with a halftime performance by the JONAS BROTHERS in Dallas and JESSE MCCARTNEY taking the stage in Detroit.MICHELLE WILLIAMS, DEMI LOVATO and MARIO will perform the National Anthem in Detroit, Dallas and Philadelphia, respectively. Items signed by each act will be auctioned off at NFL Auction (www.nflauction.nfl.com), with proceeds going to youth health organizations.

Beginning on Thanksgiving and continuing throughout the weekend, all stadiums will feature NFL PLAY 60 banners and on-field stencils. In addition, The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and The President's Council on Service and Civic Participation will emphasize the importance of health and fitness by presenting The President's Volunteer Service Award to a player from each team who contributes to his community by encouraging kids to stay active and healthy. These award presentations will take place during pregame ceremonies at all games on November 30.

Players receiving the President's Volunteer Service Award:


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National Football League (NFL)

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