New Balance donates money to children's program

The New Balance Foundation said it is committed to give $1.57 million over three years to a children's nutrition and fitness program at Boston Medical Center, the not-for-profit hospital.

Called FANtastic Kids, the program aim is to provide fitness and nutritional educational opportunities to obese children, and it has ties to the National Football League.

The New Balance Foundation is a charitable foundation established and funded by New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc., a Boston-based company known for its athletic footwear and apparel.

"The foundation’s major focus is the prevention of childhood obesity, and we seek to fund programs that help overweight children and put them on a path towards a healthier future,” Anne Davis, managing trustee of the New Balance Foundation, said in a statement. “Twenty percent of children in Boston are currently overweight, and another 25 percent are at risk."

In a separate statement, Vivien Morris, NFL director of community initiatives, referenced the several local community health centers and YMCAs where the program operates in Greater Boston.

“During the academic year, BMC will offer two 12-week FANtastic Kids sessions targeting 15-20 obese youth ages 8-12 at each site, reaching a total of 555 to 740 obese youth over the next three years," Morris said. "Each session will include two after-school days of nutrition education and physical activity for youth with the FANtastic curriculum, as well as one after-school day for family coaching.”
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)