Sabrina Bryan Visits Winner

Students Dance Their Way to a Celebrity Day of Dance

Leoti, Kansas 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students raised nearly $5000 to win the national Dance for Health™ contest.  A condemned gymnasium motivated fundraising to purchase games and equipment for active indoor play in their classrooms.

Wichita, KS- In October 2008, the Kansas based nonprofit, Healthy Kids Challenge, (www.healthykidschallenge.org), sponsored a national Dance for Health™ contest.  The goal was to offer a healthy school fundraiser and a fun way for kids and families to enjoy being active.  The grand prize for raising the most funds was a Day of Dance with celebrity, Sabrina Bryan, a Disney Cheetah Girl and ABC-TV Dancing with the Stars contestant.  Ms. Bryan, national spokesperson for Healthy Kids Challenge, recently released her second album, BYou2, focused on healthy living and self-esteem. 

Wichita County Junior High School, Leoti, Kansas (population 1,372) won the contest!  Without a gymnasium, due to structural damage and failure to pass a much needed bond issue to upgrade facilities, the 106 junior high students were proactive and raised almost $5,000 to purchase active play equipment they could use in their classrooms. 

 “The success of the students’ dance event to support healthy lifestyles is a perfect indicator of all that’s right with education today,” said Dr. James Hardy, Superintendent of Wichita County schools. “Given guidance and the opportunity, students will do their best for a worthy cause.”

On February 25th, 2009, at 9am, CST, Ms. Bryan kicked off the Day of Dance with an all school and community assembly, in the High School Gymnasium.  Everyone was welcome to this motivational talk and dance performance.  Throughout the day, Sabrina taught the 6th, 7th and 8th grade students dance routines and talked with them about healthy lifestyles. 

To learn more about Healthy Kids Dance for Health™, visit www.healthykidsdance.org. For further information about the Healthy Kids Challenge and their national sponsors for the event, CIGNA and Mission Foods, log onto www.healthykidschallenge.org.

About Healthy Kids Challenge 
Originally created in 1998 by registered dietitian Vickie James, RD, LD, a native Kansan, residing in Dighton, KS, the non-profit organization began as a pilot program for Cooking Light magazine to guide schools in providing easy ways to make healthy changes in the school environment. A national leader, HKC offers simple solutions for incorporating healthy eating and physical activity into daily life anywhere kids and families live, learn, work, and play. 

About CIGNA
CIGNA (NYSE: CI) provides employers with benefits, expertise and services that improve the health, well being and productivity of their employees. Serving millions of customers, clients and members in the United States and around the globe, CIGNA's operating subsidiaries offer a full portfolio of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits and group life, accident and disability insurance. CIGNA's international operations also offer health care coverage for expatriate employees. For more information, go to http://www.cigna.com .

About Mission Foods
Mission Foods, headquartered in Irving (Dallas area), Texas and Gruma S.A.B. de C.V., a Mexican corporation, was founded in 1949, and is one of the largest tortilla manufacturers in the United States. Gruma S.A. de C.V. is the parent company of Mission Foods (Gruma Corporation) and is a leading Mexican producer of corn masa flour and tortilla products. It has operations in Mexico, the United States, Central and South America, Europe and Asia. Visit Mission Foods’ Web site visit www.missionmenus.com and click on "Tips and Tricks" to hear Sabrina Bryan, HKC's national spokesperson, discuss the importance of healthy eating and learn some of her favorite healthy recipes.