Mission Statement

“Use every day ways to guide schools, communities, and programs in creating solutions to help kids and families Connect Health And Needs, Get Excited (C.H.A.N.G.E).”

History

Healthy Kids Challenge (HKC) was founded in 1998, when Cooking Light staff and volunteers partnered with nearby Center Street Middle School to raise awareness and encourage healthy changes in the eating and activity habits of these urban schoolchildren. The success of the kids, parents, and teachers project led to plans for an ongoing initiative, utilizing the vast reach of the magazine and web site to promote and support the effort.

The growth has been phenomenal! The one week, one school trial in 1998-99, led to a four-school pilot in 1999-2000. Positive survey results of 1400 kids and 900 adults involved in The Challenge that year spurred the program on to over 600 schools on board at the end of school year 2000-2001. Today thousands of schools across the U.S., including Australia, Japan, British Columbia, and Canada are Taking the Challenge!

In July 2001, HKC began a new phase of growth! Top-level corporate changes required that HKC become either a for-profit or freestanding, non-profit program. The decision that the HKC mission can be best served by remaining non-profit wasn’t difficult, but also meant HKC would be freestanding! We are excited to be able to continue a strong partnership with Cooking Light, with HKC remaining a direct link on the Cooking Light web site homepage. HKC continues to look much the same, but we are now seeking foundation and grant funds, and corporate sponsorships to not only maintain our current level of assistance to kids and families, but expand to meet the national demand!