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Tinker Youth Programs awarded grant to help youth live healthy lifestyles

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TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Tinker Youth Programs has been selected as one of 33 Boys and Girls Clubs across the country to receive a grant from Coca-Cola to run Triple Play: A Game Plan for the Mind, Body and Soul.

Triple Play is Boys and Girls Clubs of America's proven health and wellness program supported by founding sponsor Coca-Cola and the WellPoint Foundation. The program encourages club members ages 6 to 18 to eat a balanced diet (mind), become more physically active (body) and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships (soul).

A two-year study of more than 2,000 children who attend Boys and Girls Clubs showed that Triple Play succeeded in getting them to exercise more, eat healthier foods and feel better about themselves.

"We are very excited to bring Triple Play to our club kids and teens," said Mindy Whittington, director of Tinker Youth Programs. "With support from great community partners like Coca-Cola, we are helping young people learn to live a healthy lifestyle, providing them a pathway to a great future."

The club expects at least 100 youth to experience the Triple Play program thanks to the new funding.

"At The Coca-Cola Company, our goal is to deepen relationships with our communities and demonstrate commitment to the physical well-being of our consumers. The Boys and Girls Clubs' Triple Play program is a great example," said Quinton Martin, vice president, community marketing, Coca-Cola North America. "We all must take part in ensuring the well-being of our nation's young people."

Tinker Youth Programs provides program opportunities for dependents of active duty military members, Department of Defense civilians, retirees and contractors throughout the year. The youth center is located in Bldg. 5520, next door to Tinker Elementary School in base housing.

Parents or guardians interested in having their children participate in the activities offered can learn more about Triple Play or other youth programs by calling the youth center at 734-7866 or visiting the center's Facebook page, Tinker Youth Programs.