The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Conference attendees build bikes to help kids exercise
Health coaches were in Atlanta for Take Shape For Life meeting.
About 1,000 health coaches came together to assemble more than 200 bikes to be donated to underprivileged youth through Hands on Atlanta, a nonprofit that aims to tackle Atlanta’s most pressing needs and serve the city’s most vulnerable communities.
“In 2016, we launched Take Shape For Life® Cares, a charitable effort that’s main objective is to give back to underprivileged communities through an association with organizations that align with Take Shape For Life’s mission of Optimal Wellbeing. The Take Shape For Life Cares initiative is also a way for the company — both corporate employees and our health coaches — to make a positive impact in each of our conference cities,” said Daniel Chard, CEO of Medifast.
Spreading a mission of lifelong optimal health and wellbeing is a primary focus for Take Shape For Life Health coaches. The 200 bikes aim to spread the mission to underprivileged youth in Atlanta who may not have the means to create habits of exercise and movement and start leading an active lifestyle.
The bicycles will be donated to students at Belmont Hills Elementary School in Smyrna and D.H. Stanton Elementary School in the city who are a part of the nonprofit’s Discovery program, the organization’s longest standing program and has impacted the lives of more than 20,000 students since its inception.
“Discovery program students will receive the bikes for perfect handsonatlanta.org Each Tuesday, we write about charity events such as funruns, volunteer projects and other community gatherings that benefit a good cause. To suggest an event for us to cover, contact Devika Rao at doing.goodAJC@gmail.com. attendance during Discovery sessions throughout the school year,” said Julianna Cagle, director of development at Hands on Atlanta. “Bikes will be given as incentive to students to continue focusing on their education and getting outside to exercise on their new bicycles.”
The cornerstone tutoring and mentoring program of Hands On Atlanta, the program currently serves 843 students in Atlanta-area Title 1 public schools.
The coaches were in Atlanta for the annual Go Global 2017 Convention hosted by leading optimal health company Take Shape for Life. The company also donated $10,000 to Hands on Atlanta for its programs.
With more than 20,000 volunteers annually, Hands on Atlanta provides 126,000-plus hours of volunteer service in the Greater Atlanta area. People can find various service projects on the nonprofit’s website to help make a difference in the community.
Upcoming
Dunwoody Comprehensive Transportation Plan: Public Information Open House. 6-8 p.m. March 7. Dunwoody City Hall, 41 Perimeter Center East, Suite 103, Dunwoody. DunwoodyGa.gov.
Dunwoody State of the City Address by Mayor Denis Shortal. 6-9 p.m. March 9. Crowne Plaza Ravinia Ravinia Hotel, 4355 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. DunwoodyGa.gov.
Atlanta Color Dash 5K Fun Run/Walk by the Down Syndrome Association of Atlanta. 7 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. run/ walk, 10:30 a.m. Color Explosion Party March 11. $20 to $40, free for children 5 and under. Blackburn Park, 3493 Ashford Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody. Open to all ages and abilities. Wear white and get doused with an array of shimmering colors at each kilometer. cd5k.com.