FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2009
Contact: Jamie Arehart (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 267-350-7699)
Community Summit Brings Together Area's Top Officials
PHILADELPHIA-Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania (HPC), Greater North Penn Collaborative for Health and Human Services and Montgomery County Health Alliance will address and confront childhood obesity in Montgomery County at their 4th Annual Community Summit on Tuesday, March 31 at William Penn Inn in Gwynedd, Pa., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
According to data released last month from Public Health Management Corporation's 2008 Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey nearly one in four children in Montgomery County are overweight or obese.
The summit, "Protecting Our Children's Future: Uniting Our Community to Reduce Childhood Obesity," brings together the area's top school officials in health care, business, government and nonprofit representatives. Greater North Penn Collaborative for Health and Human Services hosts the summit along with HPC's WISE SNAC (Wellness Initiative for the School Environment Smart Nutrition and Activity Collaborative) and Montgomery County Health Alliance.
"With two great partners, the Health Promotion Council and Montgomery County Health Alliance, we're excited to bring an array of resources and expert knowledge to the people in our communities that have the power to turn around this obesity epidemic," said Ella Roush, coordinator for the Greater North Penn Collaborative for Health and Human Services.
The summit's keynote speaker, Dr. Cheryl Charles, president of the Children and Nature Network, works to reconnect children with nature and unstructured playtime. Also assisting to develop an innovative action plan, panelists from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Pennsylvania Department of Health, American Academy of Pediatrics, Nemours Health and Prevention Services, and Action for Healthy Kids, will attend.
Gold sponsors of this summit include Merck, North Penn Community Health Foundation, North Penn United Way and Public Health Management Corporation. Silver Sponsors include Giant, Grand View Hospital, Independence Blue Cross, InnerLink. Bronze Sponsors are Abington Hospital, CADCOM, Cardiovascular Institute, Harleysville Savings Bank, Lansdale Hospital, Montgomery County Health Alliance, North Penn YMCA and Penn State Cooperative Extension of Montgomery County.
For more information and to register for this event, please visit www.npcollab.org or contact Ella Roysh at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 215-234-4022.
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About HPC
Health Promotion Council of Southeastern Pennsylvania (HPC), an affiliate of the Public Health Management Corporation holds the mission to promote health, prevent and manage chronic disease through community-based outreach, education, and advocacy. Together with its innovative work with underrepresented minority groups and unique programs advocate healthier lifestyles, HPC advances the field of health promotion in Southeastern Pennsylvania and across the state.
