Fighting Childhood Obesity with "Social Fitness"

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) SANTA MONICA, CA - July 28, 2010 - With today’s kids being called the “least physically active” generation to date, KooDooZ Corporation and O2 MAX Fitness, Inc. are asking families to take ownership of the childhood obesity epidemic with their participation in the third annual Tour de Fitness (TDF).

Presented by Accusplit and hosted by Nickelodeon’s Victorious starlet, Daniella Monet, TDF is an interactive city-walk which serves to educate participants on the many actions they can take to be healthy, fit and well. “Daniella is a welcome addition to this event,” said Karen Jashinsky, founder of O2 MAX Fitness. “Her participation will reinforce how important bringing innovative hands-on nutrition and fitness curriculum is to young children.” Daniella recently volunteered at the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Teaching Garden event for a day of service to teach students how a few small changes in diet and exercise can make life-saving differences.

“We are equally excited to announce the partnership with The City of Santa Monica’s Buy Local program, the Bayside District and the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce,” said Lee Fox, founder of KooDooZ, a cause-based social networking site for kids. “Community partnerships are so important especially when you’re asking families to adopt positive behavioral and social change.” This year’s Tour De Fitness is part of a Passport to Wellness designed to raise awareness of the economic and environmental benefits of choosing local first. 

“Our Santa Monica businesses have always recognized the importance of being strong community partners,” said Laurel Rosen, President and CEO of the Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce. "It's what makes them unique."

“KooDooZ and O2 MAX Fitness have a far deeper mission than just focusing on health and wellness in the traditional sense,” added Jennifer Taylor, Senior Development Analyst for the City of Santa Monica’s Economic Development Department and member of the Buy Local Steering Committee. “It was their commitment to nurturing community pride and promoting a sustainable community that impressed the Buy Local Santa Monica Committee.  Tour de Fitness and the broader Passport to Wellness program give our local businesses an opportunity to be involved in great causes.”

On August 14^th, 2010, up to 300 Southern Californians will be joined by celebrity trainers and instructors including YogaWorks, Dion Jackson, Ilyse Baker, Natasha Kufa and the Angel City Derby Girls for a 6-mile circuit of wellness activities. Brand sponsors Accusplit, K-Swiss, EcoUsable, Dance Doctor, Natural High Lifestyle, United Studios of Self Defense, Mr. Pedometer, PAINT:LAB and NAPSAC will also afford participants new health experiences. 

TDF registration is required: www.bit.ly/tdf10

Not local to Southern California? KooDooZ offers an online tool-kit for families to plan their own community Tour De Fitness event. 

About Tour De Fitness:

Tour de Fitness began as a local guerilla marketing campaign to raise awareness on youth fitness. Tour de Fitness has received several awards and recognitions to date: Best Guerilla Marketing Tactic by USC, a presenter at the annual IDEA Fitness convention, as well as a nomination for the best event from the Governor’s Fitness Council. TDF has grown to include the community and business at large as a community rallies to spread the importance of youth fitness. 

About KooDooZ® Corporation:        

KooDooZ ("Kü - Düz") is a "cause-based" social networking site designed to cultivate youth social entrepreneurs by “challenging” them to achieve specific philanthropic goals. In partnership with nonprofits, educators and profit-for-purpose organizations, each challenge is authored with easy-to-follow methodologies and anticipated times to complete. By sharing these challenges with friends and family, kids can virally garner support for the causes they care about most and earn credit towards the President’s Volunteer Service Award for those tasks that meet volunteerism, community service and service learning standards. For more information, visit www.KooDooZ.com

About O2 MAX Fitness Incorporated:

O2 MAX Fitness is a youth fitness & media company offering personalized fitness programs tailored around life events and transitions like prom and college. Programs include MAX U (for college students), MAX HIGH (for high school students), MAX Studio (for those close to the Santa Monica studio), MAX Family (for the entire family, ages 2 and above) and MAX Racing (for those in training for charity walks, recreational races, 100 mile bike races and competitive triathlons). For more information, please see www.o2maxfitness.com  

About Buy Local Santa Monica:

Buy Local Santa Monica was created by representatives of the Santa Monica business community and the City of Santa Monica to support local businesses and raise awareness of the community, economic and environmental benefits of choosing local first. With each purchase made close to home or work you make an investment in our local economy, save time, and reduce your carbon footprint. Members include restaurants, clothing stores, and health & fitness businesses. For more information, please see www.buylocalsantamonica.com

Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce:

The Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce advocates and represents business' interests and issues affecting the community. We provide the environment to help our members prosper and succeed through a proactive working partnership with all levels of government and community organizations to achieve a healthy local economy and quality of life. For example, the Chamber plans local events, such as the Santa Monica Cares Health and Fitness Expo. For more information, please see www.smchamber.com

Bayside District:

The Bayside District Corporation (BDC) is a public-private management company that oversees Downtown Santa Monica. It mission is to promote the economic stability, growth and community life within the Bayside District through responsible planning, development, management and coordination of programs, projects and services designed to benefit the community as a whole, which includes the District's business, property owners, visitors and residents. For more information, please see www.thirdstreetpromenade.org

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