Stacy Lewis
LPGA Tour star Stacy Lewis will be on Capitol Hill today talking about physical education throughout America as part of the 2012 National Health Through Fitness Day (NHTF). Lewis, who plays Mizuno golf clubs, is one of more than 20 athletes who will encourage congressmen and congresswomen to support the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) Grant in America’s ongoing battle to win the crisis against childhood obesity.
The PEP Grant is designed to jump start innovative physical education programs in America’s schools and community based organizations. PEP is a highly competitive grant program administered by the Department of Education and these grants are the only federal funds dedicated exclusively to Physical Education (PE). Since 2001 PEP has provided more than 700 million dollars in physical educations grants to schools and community-based organizations for the creation and expansion of quality physical education programs.
“As an athlete who battled scoliosis throughout my childhood and into my college years playing golf, I understand the importance of physical education programs in our schools,” said Lewis. “Being on Capitol Hill talking to congressman and congresswomen about the importance of the PEP grant is truly an honor that has been bestowed upon me and I plan to make the most of it.”
Every year school districts who are awarded the PEP grants use these critical funds to implement new and improved PE programs to enable all students to participate in healthy physical activity, fund community-based PE programs and train physical education teachers, school staff and administrators. Additionally, the grants provide new PE equipment, including heart-rate monitors, treadmills, elliptical machines, weight machines, mountain bikes, in-line skates and climbing walls among others.
Watch and listen as Lewis talks about playing Mizuno clubs and her battle with scoliosis.
