RICHMOND —
NFL football player and former University of Kentucky running back Artose Pinner autographed lunch bags, footballs, notebook paper and anything Glenn Marshall elementary students could find (including arms and hands) during his visit Thursday to kick off the Fuel Up to Play 60 (FUTP 60) grant program.
Glenn Marshall Elementary, B. Michael Caudill Middle and Kingston Elementary each were awarded the grant, which seeks to promote “fueling up” with healthy foods and “playing” (or other physical activity) at least 60 minutes a day, according the FUTP 60 website.
The grant is sponsored by the Southeast Dairy Association and the NFL. Schools may be awarded a maximum of $4,000 each year.
“Let me ask you guys a quick question,” Pinner said to a gymnasium full of elementary students.
“Are you ready?” He asked. The students replied with a thundering “Yes.”
“Good,” said Pinner, “because I’m a strong believer that if you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready.”
Part of staying ready, he told the students, is eating healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables and dairy products which will allow the mind and body to be at its peak potential.
“Let’s put away the chips and the candy and start eating good foods,” said Pinner, who told the students he thought that if they had more information on their food options, they will begin to make healthier choices.
“Childhood obesity is at an all-time high,” he said. “Kids just don’t have the will to go out and play.”
Pinner told the students about a time he was babysitting his nephew and he announced that he was bored. Pinner told his nephew to go play with his friends, to which his nephew replied, “I already played with my friends for two hours on the Internet.”
“I understand it doesn’t happen overnight and it takes a team effort,” Pinner said, “but go home and talk to your parents about taking a walk before or after dinner or riding your bikes together. It’s all about changing our mind set and the habits we’re accustomed to.”
The Marshall Mustangs will be using the $4,000 grant to buy resistance bands, weights, movement DVDs, a dance book and two or three stability balls for each classroom, said physical education teacher Kendra Arnold.
“We are so excited to provide another approach for students to develop healthy eating habits at an early age,” Principal Abby White said. “Fuel Up to Play 60 is giving us the funding to increase our efforts to encourage physical activity and healthy eating.”
The school also will utilize the money for taste testing new foods.
Monday, the Touchdown Team, comprised of third, fourth- and fifth-graders will begin handing out new foods to each classroom. The student team will administer a survey to each class and be a part of totaling the results which will determine whether to add the food to the school’s menu.
Monday’s food testing sample will include blueberries and kiwi.
“I’ve never really eaten blueberries and kiwi, they just look funny to me,” said Caleb Northern, a fifth-grader on the Touchdown Team.
Although Caleb generally does not eat food that “looks strange,” he plans to try the fruits to get younger students to do the same as part of his leadership role on the team.
“I want to encourage kids to try new things,” Caleb said. “I hope they like these news foods, and I hope I do too.”
Abby Hill, another fifth-grader on the team, wants her classmates to know that the foods are “healthy and tasty,” she said.
If a student did not want to try blueberries, she will say, “If you like blueberry muffins — which are good — you will probably like blueberries too,” she said.
B. Michael Caudill also had a kick-off assembly Thursday afternoon. Earlier in the day, students participated in a FUTP 60 activity called Fuel Up With My Plate. Pinner also visited with the middle-schoolers and spoke to them about the importance of eating healthy and getting active.
“It is my job to ensure we are providing a school environment that promotes good nutrition and lots of physical activity,” said BMCMS Principal Ken Bicknell. “Fuel Up To Play 60 is a great way to provide exciting opportunities to encourage our next generation to develop healthy habits that will last a lifetime.”
Kingston Elementary is planning their kick-off assembly for Feb. 14.
Crystal Wylie can be reached at cwylie@richmondregister.com or 623-1669, ext. 6696.
Local News
Related Photos
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Artose Pinner, a former NFL and University of Kentucky player, autographs a football Thursday for Glenn Marshall Elementary fifth-grader Julius Dray during Pinner's visit to kickoff the school's Fuel Up to Play 60 grant. The grant, co-sponsored by the NFL, helps promote a healthy lifestyle for students. Nancy Taggart
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Former NFL player Artose Pinner autographs Katelynn Graves' arm while visiting Glenn Marshall Elementary students during lunch Thursday to kickoff the Fuel Up to Play 60 grant. At left is fellow fourth-grader Jaley Olds. Nancy Taggart
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Matthew Lamb, a Glenn Marshall Elementary fourth-grader, cheers Thursday during the school's kickoff assembly for its Fuel Up to Play 60 grant. As part of the grant, which promotes a healthy lifestyle, the school will receive weights, movement DVDs, resistance bands and other health equipment. Nancy Taggart
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Members of the Glenn Marshall Elementary Touchdown Team meet Thursday with Artose Pinner, a former NFL player, before the school's kickoff assembly for its Fuel Up to Play 60 grant. Touchdown Team members pictured are, from left, fourth-grader Deashon Gowdy, fifth-grader Abby Hill, fourth-grader Jasmine Wright, third-grader Niel Martin, and fourth-grader Andrew Barton. The Touchdown Team will help their classmates taste test healthy foods as part of the grant. Nancy Taggart
Tackling childhood obesity
Schools kick off health program with former Kentucky, NFL player
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