July 11, 2012
CONTACTS AARP Georgia Kevin Doyle kdoyle@aarp.org 404-870-3785
JayEll Vaughn Black Girls RUN! JayEll.Vaughn@BlackGirlsRUN.com 757-544-1170
Organizations partner to raise awareness of hunger and nutrition
ATLANTA – (July 10, 2012) - AARP and Black Girls RUN! will host the inaugural Black Girls Run/Drive to End Hunger 5K/10K race and fitness weekend on Sept. 14 – 16 in Atlanta. The event will promote both organizations’ nationwide efforts to raise awareness of of food and nutrition issues and to fight two seemingly unrelated food issues, hunger and obesity.
“AARP is excited to join with Black Girls RUN! to shine a light on health and nutrition issues that range from too much food to too little. At AARP, we’re always concerned about the well-being of all those 50 years old and older, but we’re working especially hard now to address hunger among older Americans,” said Pamela Roshell, AARP Georgia State Director. In 2010, more than 48 million people – nearly 9 million of them 50 and older - in the United States lived in “food insecure” households – households that must wonder whether and how there will be enough food. In Georgia, just over 9 percent of adults 50 years of age and older are threatened by hunger. At the same time, Black Girls RUN! (BGR), a national fitness organization founded to combat obesity among black women, works to help people make wise food and fitness choices. Too often, BGR points out, people living in low or moderate income neighborhoods have only limited fresh and healthy food choices at stores and markets convenient to them. They may also choose foods high in calories and/or fat – foods that seem filling – as they try to stretch their food dollars. “Socio-economic status should not prevent people from having access to healthy foods and fresh produce,” said Toni Carey, co-founder of Black Girls RUN! “We’re excited to partner with AARP to tackle two of the country’s most pervasive problems, and we invite Atlanta and our Black Girls RUN! members across the country to join us in this one-of-a-kind event.” The Black Girls Run/Drive to End Hunger 5K/10K is scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 16, and is open to all runners aged 12 and above. Leading up to the race, AARP and BGR will collect healthy non-perishable food items from participants, volunteers, and the public. The organizations will work to collect 100,000 pounds of food to be donated to Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless in Atlanta. A portion of the proceeds from the event will be donated to AARP Foundation and Hosea Feed the Hungry and Homeless. Along with the road race, BGR will host its inaugural national conference for BGR members on Friday, Sept. 14, and Saturday, Sept. 15. The conference will include a variety of workshops and learning opportunities designed to provide women with the tools and resources they need to live a healthy and active lifestyle. “The weekend will give BGR members an opportunity to meet new friends and spend time together, learn, celebrate their accomplishments and celebrate the growth of Black Girls RUN!,” said Carey. “From workshops and clinics to a special celebration dinner, members can expect a one-of-a-kind event.” Membership is free and open to all women. To become a member, visit www.BlackGirlsRUN.com. Registration for the Black Girls Run/Drive to End Hunger 5K/10K is open now. For more information about the event; a complete schedule of activities; instructions on how to donate food items; how to volunteer; or to register, visit www.aarp.org/blackgirlsrun. AARP Georgia’s collaboration in the Black Girls Run/Drive to End Hunger 5K/10K is part of a much larger, nationwide effort by AARP and AARP Foundation to respond to a worrisome trend. “Hunger among older Americans age 50 and above has spiked nearly 80 percent since 2001,” Roshell said. “That’s why AARP Foundation is working to end hunger among older Americans through Drive to End Hunger. When we work with groups like Black Girls RUN! to benefit Hosea Feed the Hungry and AARP Foundation, we know we can make a difference,” Roshell said. Drive to End Hunger is a multi-year commitment to solve the problem of hunger among older Americans by providing short- and long-term sustainable solutions to the problem of older adult hunger through:Comments will be approved before showing up.
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