Summary
Organization name
Healthy LifeStars
other names
HLS
2003
Category
Youth Development
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
1645 E. Missouri Ave. Suite 330Phoenix, AZ 85016
AZ, US
Obesity is a critical health problem facing children in the US and is preventable. With 1 in 4 CO children overweight or obese, thousands could benefit from the LifeStar Challenge. With your support of $50 per child, we can offer this life changing program to more kids and combat childhood obesity
Testimonials
"Healthy LifeStars has helped me by being active and achieving my goals. It's teaching me new habits, such as I'm drinking more water and eating more fruits; it has activities to help keep me physically active after school too" -- Aaron, The LifeStar Challenge participant
"I think The LifeStar Challenge helped me be happier, stronger and healthier. I would really like to do this again." -- Sadie, The LifeStar Challenge Participant
"The LifeStar Challenge has helped me eat right. It has also helped me be more active and feel better." -- Dhajshanaye, The LifeStar Challenge Participant
Mission
The mission of Healthy LifeStars is to motivate and educate kids to live active, healthy lives now and in the future. This is accomplished through the three fundamental elements of healthy living: goal setting (I Can Do It!), physical activity (I'm Active!) and proper nutrition (I Eat Right!).
Background Statement
Healthy LifeStars was formed in 2003 to help combat childhood obesity. Since inception, Healthy LifeStars has provided The LifeStar Challenge to more than 50,000 underserved, at-risk elementary-age students in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Ohio. The LifeStar Challenge, which consists of 35-lessons focused on nutrition (I Eat Right!), physical activity (I'm Active!) and goal-setting (I Can Do It!) along with mindfulness lessons are offered free to youth based organization partner sites. With fun lessons and interactive sessions, participants learn to adopt healthy habits so that they can live healthy lives today and every day.
Healthy LifeStars provides the 35-lesson curriculum, resources, online and in-person training, support and tools to partner sites. We also continue to develop new tools and curriculum to best meet the needs of partner sites and to make a greater impact on reducing childhood obesity. We have two new virtual programs Healthy LifeStarsAtHome for parents/caregivers/guardians and Healthy LifeStars4Groups for schools, afterschool programs, recreational centers and other youth serving organizations.
Healthy LifeStars offers a number of healthy activities throughout the year to promote active, healthy communities. From Zumba for Kids, and our annual Spring StepAThon we hope to launch a generation of LifeStars who know how to live active healthy lives now and in the future.
But why is addressing childhood obesity an urgent need? In addition to a range of physical and mental issues, obesity accounts for nearly $20,000 in incremental medical costs per overweight child per year. Sadly, children who are overweight or obese are more likely to become overweight or obese adults, making them more susceptible to heart disease, diabetes, joint and muscle pain, breathing issues, psychosocial issues, certain cancers, and mortality.
Because poverty rates and obesity are directly correlated, as children from low-income households have nearly double the chance of being obese than children from higher income households, Healthy LifeStars directly targets underserved, at-risk children.
Media gallery
Organization Data
Phoenix, AZ 85016