MedExpress provides funding to continue program
This fall, students and faculty from all 13 Greenbrier County Schools will continue to receive wellness education and activities through the district’s Wellness Champions Program. The Wellness Champions Program aims to combat childhood diseases associated with obesity and a lack of physical activity through nutrition education, access to healthy snacks, staff wellness development, physical education and tobacco-use prevention.
Since its inception in 2011 following a $10,000 start-up donation from MedExpress, the Wellness Champion Program and its school-based “wellness champions” have served approximately 14,200 elementary, middle and high school children within the Greenbrier County School System. After the 2014-2015 academic year, the program faced financial uncertainty, resulting in an additional pledge from MedExpress to continue the program. This gift, combined with additional county funding for physical education and nutritional materials/aids, will provide the district’s wellness champions with the necessary tools to continue the program.
“We have very strong wellness policies within Greenbrier County School, but without representatives like our wellness champions, there’s no one to turn those policies into tangible activities and programs that positively impact the students and staff,” said Paula McCoy, Lead School Nurse for Greenbrier County Schools. “We’re so grateful to have a partner like MedExpress who shares our commitment to the health and well-being of Greenbrier County children.”
The additional funding this year of $5,000 from Med Express and a private donation of $1,500 will be used to maintain a wellness champion staff member in each of the district’s 13 schools and continue programming such as lunch and learn sessions, health and safety fairs, health promotion activities and seasonal education programs.
“As a community health care partner, MedExpress is proud to continue supporting the Greenbrier County Schools and the community through the Wellness Champions Program,” said Frank Alderman, MD, CEO of MedExpress and White Sulphur Springs native. “We believe strongly in the value of this program and in promoting opportunities that encourage children to live healthy lives. We’re part of this community, and as such, MedExpress is committed and will continue to be committed to youth and health education and the long-term well-being of children and families.”
