FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. (May, 2014) -- Child, Youth and School Services was awarded a $14,225 grant from National Government Services on April 26 to support its Boys & Girls Clubs of America Triple Play program.
Triple Play is BGCA's first, yearlong comprehensive health and wellness program that strives to improve the overall health of children ages 6 to 18 by increasing their daily physical activity, teaching them proper nutrition and helping them to develop healthy relationships, according to the BGCA website.
National Government Services is a part of the Wellpoint Foundation and a benefactor of BGCA. The foundation supports the Healthy Generations Program, a multigenerational effort to improve public health.
"I was extremely pleased to receive this funding from the Wellpoint Foundation," said Francisco Jamison, CYSS administrator. "Foundations like Wellpoint help to improve the health and wellness of countless families in communities around the country."
The grant will be used to purchase supplies and equipment, and provide more sports and fitness tournaments and leadership development opportunities for the participants.
More than 150 youths participate in Triple Play at the Youth Center, Teen Center and School Age Services.
The program is divided into three parts - mind, body and soul. The mind component encourages youths to eat smart through the Healthy Habits program, which covers the power of choice, calories, vitamins and minerals, the food pyramid and appropriate portion size.
The body component complements BGCA's traditional physical activities by introducing sports and fitness activities at a higher level by emphasizing team sports.
The soul component helps build positive relationships and cooperation among youths.
Mahlon Thomas, a Child and Youth program assistant at CYSS, has been facilitating Triple Play for almost two years. Thomas said Fort Meade's program incorporates cooking clubs to teach proper nutrition, and that rigorous activities such as relay races and basketball are a part of the program.
"The soul aspect is covered with sportsmanship and respect among themselves, which we strongly encourage," Thomas said. "Youth learn interpersonal skills and build confidence through team play, which are tools needed in life."
Kevin Flowers, a seventh-grader at MacArthur Middle School, said Triple Play has taught him the value of exercise.
"People can get obese it they don't exercise. It can become an issue," the 12-year-old said. "You can get sick."
Leah Davis, also a seventh-grader at MacArthur Middle School, said she has learned the importance of moderation.
"You get to balance out your mind, your body and your soul," the 13-year-old said.
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