Baseline Business Proposal

Mission Statement
The Fit Family Foundation is committed to the prevention and education of childhood obesity throughout Northeast Ohio by promoting active living and creating healthy lifestyle changes through educating families about physical activity, proper nutrition, mental health, and overall wellness.

Statistics
More than one third of U.S. adults...more than 72 million people...and 16% of U.S. children…more than 13 million... are obese.  Since 1980, obesity rates have tripled for children.

Obesity is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Obesity has physical, psychological and social consequences in adults and children. Data from NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys) 1976-1980 and 2003-2006 show that the prevalence of obesity has increased for children aged 2-5 years from 5.0% to 12.4%; for children aged 6-11 years from 6.5% to 17.0%; and for children aged 12-19 years from 5.0% to 17.6%.1      

Even though nationally the obesity rate is 33%, obesity affects us all.  Obesity is a major factor in the increase of health care costs that get passed on to all Americans.  Increased health care costs are another lifelong effect that overweight children will have to deal with forever if they do not do something to change their lifestyle.

Research from the Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) shows that:

Obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults.  One study found that 80% of children who were overweight between the ages of 10 and 15 were obese adults at age 25.  Another study found that 25% of obese adults were overweight as children.  The latter study also found that if a child is overweight before 8 years of age, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe.

The chances of these lifetime health consequences are increased for people who are obese:

The Fit Family Foundation is dedicated to finding ways to prevent obesity in children by educating both parents and children about leading a healthy lifestyle.  We focus on the fitness aspect, rather than just reacting to the problem after it exists.  We also work with children who are already overweight to help lead them away from a lifetime of obesity and the consequences that come with it.

Why Do We Need This Program?
Many parents are unaware that their children are overweight.  The American population in general has become heavier in the past 15 years, and people have a new image of average.  That new image of average however can have many health risks for children that can carry over into adulthood.  Obese children have an increased risk for diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and are twice as likely to have asthma.  In addition, children who are overweight are very likely to be overweight for life which carries with it serious life long health, financial and emotional consequences. 

Our Programs
Our education program is a well rounded approach.  We teach families how to make fitness a fun activity, and also educate families on nutrition, mental health, and behavioral health.  Our educational approach uses hands on, fun activities directed at both children and parents. 

Many children start making some of their own decisions about what they like to eat as young as the toddler years.  Even at this young age they can be educated about what are healthy options for snacks.  Why is a piece of fruit a better alternative than fruit snacks?  If parents can instill this information in their children when they are young it will help them when they are older and make many more decisions about what they are going to eat. 

The following is a list of activities that we do to reach out to children in different ways, knowing that not everyone responds equally to the same activities.  Each type of activity is then geared towards the age of the target group we are working with at the time.

Fitness Aspect

Behavioral Aspect

Nutritional Aspect

Community Support and Outreach
The Fit Family Foundation wants to reach communities in Northeast Ohio from the urban areas to the suburbs.  We will work together with members of the local communities to help keep costs down by cooperating and coordinating with schools, community centers, and other local fitness facilities.  By working with local communities, we can bring our programs to the participants instead of requiring them to travel to a location away from their community.  This convenience factor makes it easier for today’s families to make the commitment.  It also assists with keeping the cost of the program down by not having to have the overhead to run a specialized facility. 

The Fit Family Foundation reaches out to the leaders of the communities to help in the promotion and education of our program.  We are contacting the Mayors and City Managers, Recreation Directors, Community Center Directors, School Districts, Local Corporations, as well as  Local, State, and Federal Governments to help get the information out.  We are also getting our information out through television and radio. 

Our hope is to work together with the local professional sports teams, medical facilities, the Cleveland MetroParks, Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and others throughout Northeast Ohio to help us help the children of Northeast Ohio build a healthier lifestyle and prevent them from becoming an overweight child who then becomes unhealthy, overweight adult.

Funding
It is our expectation that grants, donations, and fundraisers will fund The Fit Family Foundation, supplemented by the occasional minimal registration fees to keep cost low, and make it affordable for everyone.  We want to abandon the excuse that a healthy lifestyle is an expensive lifestyle.  Part of our education is about free alternatives.  Being fit does not need to mean having an expensive gym membership.  It can be as simple as going for a hike in the park or going for a walk around the block after a healthy meal. 

We feel that our operating expenses will be approximately $300,000 to $350.000 annually.  We will have a limited amount of capital expenses of some portable equipment to be used at various locations.  We will have startup costs that will include: Marketing, Website Design/Maintenance, Professional Fees, and various startup filing fees with various government agencies.  Our annual operating budget will be comprised of office fees (including rent, utilities, and general office supplies and equipment), part-time payroll for the trainers and professionals working with the participants, printing of educational materials, marketing and publicity, fundraising and special event costs, and salaries.  Our core staff will include a Director, Assistant Director, Activity/Program Director, and Special Event/Fundraising Coordinator.  Some fitness equipment and space has already been donated by Steven Lawrence Personal Fitness.

Our Staff and Advisory Council
The Fit Family Foundation Director is Steven L. Paciorek.  Steven is currently the owner of Steven Lawrence Personal Fitness, and is the Fitness Coordinator for the Brecksville Community Center.  With over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, Steven has helped hundreds of people throughout Northeast Ohio achieve their fitness goals.  Steven is a certified personal trainer with the American Council of Exercise, the Aerobic and Fitness Association of America, and Johnny G. Spinning.  Steven’s Group Programs include the Aurora and Brecksville Fitness Challenges, Corporate Wellness and Cub Scout Fitness.

The Fit Family Foundation Advisory Council has a diverse professional background, including fitness experts, dieticians, psychologists, educators, physicians, financial experts, lawyers, and community leaders.  Each member brings a different perspective to the table in how to prevent obesity and reach out to the families. 

The Fit Family Foundation staff is comprised of personal trainers, teachers, and event coordinators that plan and execute activities to help families with toddlers to adolescents learn that a healthy lifestyle is a life long program.

2 Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

3 University of Michigan, Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases, and the University of Michigan Child Health Evaluations and Research (CHEAR) Unit, CHEAR’s Journal Vol. 2, Issue 3; December 10, 2007