White Plains YMCA Encourages Kids to Play and Learn

• The following is a press release from the White Plains YMCA

On April 28, the is celebrating Healthy Kids Day® with a free community event for kids and families in White Plains, Scarsdale, Rye Brook and Greenburgh.  

More than 1,900 Ys across the country are taking part in the celebration, meant to kick start physical activity and learning throughout the summer – a critical out-of-school time for kids.

Healthy Kids Day, a national initiative of the Y to improve the health and well-being of kids, is filled with fun, active play and educational activities that will help parents improve their kids’ lifestyles for the long term. Research shows that without access to activities that stimulate the mind and body, kids are more prone to gain weight and fall behind academically over the summer months.

“At the White Plains YMCA we know that when the school year ends, many kids lose exposure to activities that keep them moving and learning. Healthy Kids Day will help parents begin thinking early about what their kids need to stay physically and intellectually active in the summer,” said Linda Dilazzaro, Senior Program, White Plains YMCA.

“Summer is just around the corner and is an ideal time for kids to get out and grow so they are healthier and sharper when the next school year begins.”

The White Plains YMCA’s event will take place at 250 Mamaroneck Avenue, at the Y from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature activities such as Archery, Frisbee, bike track with tricycles and ride-on coupes, face painting and educational activities such as “find the bones” on a skeleton.  

As part of its efforts to further the well-being of children and families, the White Plains Chrysler Jeep Dodge Dealership will co-host a special Ride and Drive event featuring its line of Dodge brand family vehicles to help encourage driver, passenger and family safety.

For every test drive taken at the event, the Dodge brand will contribute $20 to the White Plains YMCA Dodge Ride and Drive events will be taking place at 20 Healthy Kids Day events across the country. In 2011, Dodge donated more than $21,000 to participating Ys from Healthy Kids Day test drives.

A leading nonprofit committed to strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y holds Healthy Kids Day to teach healthy habits and inspire a lifetime love of physical activity through active play.

As part of this initiative, the Y – along with hundreds of thousands of parents and kids nationwide – is taking on summer by addressing critical gaps in health and education that cause kids to be at risk for childhood obesity and suffer summer learning loss.

Healthy Kids Day is supported by White Plains Chrysler Jeep Dodge. In addition, the White Plains YMCA is proud to host representatives from:

• White Plains Patch
• Sanford Brown
• Westchester Community College Center for the Arts
• Applebee’s
• Key Bank
• Nike
• Monroe College

Monroe College will be leading art and educational activities as well as providing volunteer support for the event. The Dodge brand is the national sponsor of Healthy Kids Day.   

For more information, contact White Plains YMCA at 914-287-2021 ext. 221 or visit http://whiteplains.ymca-cnw.org/

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