La Raza Joins Partnership For A Healthier America
Washington, DC-NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States, announced today that NCLR President and CEO Janet Murguía has been named to the board of directors of the Partnership for a Healthier America. The Partnership is working with First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! campaign to mobilize the private sector, thought leaders, media, and local communities to curb childhood obesity and raise a healthier generation of children.
"Childhood obesity is an epidemic that has the potential to rob young America of its future," said Murguía. "As a nation, we cannot allow an entire generation of children to live shorter lives than their parents. I am certain that by harnessing the power of all sectors of our society, we'll make great strides in reversing the obesity epidemic and give all American children the full opportunity to succeed."
"Obesity is increasingly linked to health complications, chronic disease, and poor achievement in school, which in turn have profound implications for a child's quality of life," continued Murguía. "Furthermore, the rate of obesity among Latino children continues to be disproportionately high compared to that of other American children, affecting at least one in three Latinos into adulthood."
Former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Newark Mayor Cory Booker will be joining First Lady Obama as honorary leaders of the Partnership for a Healthier America; Frist and Booker will serve as Honorary Vice Chairs. The newly named nine-member board of directors will bring its expertise and experience to support the Partnership and guide its activities. For complete board member biographies, please visitwww.ahealthieramerica.org/about/board.html.
"I am honored to join forces with many respected leaders to strengthen a national agenda that leads to a healthier America," added Murguía. "This new role is an important next step in NCLR's long-standing efforts to prevent and reduce childhood obesity through community-driven programs and national action."
For more information, please visit www.nclr.org | www.facebook.com/nationalcounciloflaraza | www.myspace.com/nclr2008 | http://twitter.com/nclr.
About the Partnership for a Healthier America
The Partnership for a Healthier America is an independent, nonpartisan organization that will mobilize broad?based support for efforts to solve the child obesity challenge. For more information about the Partnership for a Healthier America, please visit www.ahealthieramerica.org.
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