By Crystal Swann
April 19, 2010

The Partnership for a Healthier America recently announced key leaders in its effort to address the epidemic of childhood obesity. The organization named former Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist and Newark (NJ) Mayor Cory Booker as Honorary Vice Chairs, and appointed a board of directors, including Dr. James R. Gavin III, who will serve as chairman. The Partnership is working to mobilize the private sector, thought leaders, media, and local communities to action and further the goals of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! movement to end childhood obesity within a generation. The First Lady will serve as the foundation’s Honorary Chairperson.

In their roles, Frist, Booker, Gavin, and the board of directors bring valuable leadership and experience to help drive the Partnership’s activities and ensure the organization is effective in establishing measurable solutions for fighting obesity.

On a conference call with Frist, Booker, and Gavin, the First Lady welcomed the Partnership’s new leaders. “Reversing the obesity trend has never been more important to the health of our nation and, to succeed, it will take the combined effort of public and private sectors,” she said. “I am encouraged by the enthusiasm and resolve of the honorary vice chairs and new board of directors, and I am confident that their leadership and experience will help us achieve our goal of solving childhood obesity within a generation.”

Booker has worked tirelessly to promote healthy lifestyles and physical fitness for all Newark residents. “What we are seeing here on the local level, what we all know, is that this is an epidemic problem within our nation, and we see it in urban areas in particular. And it is very difficult, as I deal with many children every day, to see the impact that obesity has on self-esteem, self confidence, the kids’ pride in themselves, kids’ love of themselves…” Booker said. “I am excited to join in this effort and help bring our nation together for this important cause.”

The Partnership for a Healthier America is an independent, nonpartisan organization whose goal is to mobilize broad-based support for efforts to solve the child obesity challenge. Other members of the board of directors include Deborah DeHaas, Peter Dolan, S. Lawrence Kocot, Deborah Landesman, Janet Murguia, Vivian Riefberg, William L. Roper, and Antronette K. Yancey.

For more information on the Let’s Move! campaign and the new foundation, go to letsmove.gov and www.aHealthierAmerica.org, respectively.