Catholic Charities of Onondaga County

Obesity in young people is an epidemic in the United States. Catholic Charities of Onondaga County has a long-term commitment to improving the health and well-being of school-age children and youth (ages five through 18) by engaging them in an after-school and summer program called Kids WIN! The multi-year program provides activities that are fun and information to help shape children’s understanding, choices, and behavior related to nutrition and fitness.

This grant to Catholic Charities of Onondaga County supported the KIDS WIN! program to help combat obesity in children and youth in Syracuse, New York. Catholic Charities expected to help 1,000 kids learn how to live healthier lives through this project, an important contribution to addressing the obesity epidemic that exists in their local communities.

Major project activities included: (1) engaging children and youth (K-12) in a curriculum consisting of health, nutrition, and fitness activities at six neighborhood centers throughout inner-city Syracuse; (2) combining child-friendly information, direct education, and hands-on learning opportunities about nutrition and fitness; and (3) implementing a schedule of physical activities after school and during summer months. KIDS WIN! incorporated bilingual and culturally relevant outreach strategies to connect with the public, parents, and extended families of participant children.

Since its founding in 1923, Catholic Charities of Onondaga County has provided care and advocacy for people and families in need. One of the top 40 employers in Syracuse, the agency employs nearly 500 people at more than a dozen sites and offers nearly 50 programs.