The American Heart Association (AHA), in partnership with the National Football League (NFL), awarded two small grants to elementary schools in eastern Washington through the AHA’s school-based programs, Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge. The awards are intended to expand student opportunities for daily physical activity at school, addressing broader concerns about youth activity and obesity.
The source notes that approximately 1 in 5 children in the United States lives with obesity, and that a similar proportion of children meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. The grant awards are framed as one of several local interventions designed to increase chances for children to be active during the school day.
Two schools received grants of $500 each. Lind Elementary School in Lind, Washington, was named the recipient of an NFL PLAY 60 Active Recess Grant. The funding is to support new equipment and activities aimed at making recess more engaging and encouraging students to get outdoors and move.
Herian Elementary School in Cusick, Washington, received an NFL PLAY 60 Flag Football Equipment Grant. The grant is intended to expand access to flag football, increasing opportunities for students to participate in structured physical activity, build confidence and benefit from regular movement.
These awards represent the third round of grants this year from a $350,000 annual funding pool provided by the NFL through NFL PLAY 60. The PLAY 60 grants are distributed to support specific needs identified by schools and educators, including: physical activity equipment, FLAG football, recess enhancements, inclusive physical education, and well-being resources.
NFL PLAY 60 is an initiative designed to motivate children to be active for at least 60 minutes each day. The program is described in the source as rooted in science and aligned with national physical activity guidance.
Alan Field, a physical education teacher at Lind Elementary, said the grant will help the school introduce new equipment and activities to make recess more engaging. Field emphasized that when students have fun opportunities to play, they naturally become more active, and expressed enthusiasm about bringing additional options to the school community.
Lynne Richmond, a P.E. teacher at Herian Elementary, highlighted the importance of increasing opportunities in a small rural district. Richmond noted that the grant helps expand access to flag football, allowing more students to be active, develop confidence and experience benefits to their overall well-being.
These direct comments from school staff in the source underline that the grants are meant to be practical, school-level solutions to increase daily movement for students.
The source links the program goals to national guidance, noting NFL PLAY 60 encourages children to reach a minimum of 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity per day. This recommendation is consistent with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The AHA and NFL position the grants as part of broader efforts to build healthy habits early and improve long-term health outcomes for youth.
The initiative also uses NFL mascot ambassadors to encourage children to move more. The source lists the current ambassador class as: Freddie Falcon (Atlanta Falcons); Gumbo (New Orleans Saints); Rampage (Los Angeles Rams); Roary (Detroit Lions); Rowdy (Dallas Cowboys); Sir Purr (Carolina Panthers); and T-Rac (Tennessee Titans). These mascots are described as part of efforts to inspire movement that supports both mental and physical well-being.
According to the source, grant applications are accepted year-round. Schools and educators interested in grants or learning more about the AHA’s school programs are directed to visit heart.org/jointhechallenge for additional information about Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge.
The source summarizes the AHA as an organization dedicated to longer, healthier lives and to ensuring equitable health in all communities, with a long history of providing health information, funding research, advocating for public health and offering resources related to cardiovascular disease and stroke. NFL PLAY 60 is described as the League’s youth health and wellness platform, aimed at empowering youth to be physically active at least 60 minutes a day and supporting programs and resources that help children lead a healthy lifestyle.
The source lists media contacts for the American Heart Association and provides a public inquiry phone number: 1-800-AHA-USA1. For media inquiries the source names two AHA contacts and their email addresses. The article also references web properties for additional information, including heart.org and NFL.com/PLAY60.