Health Corps program, the Touro and Columbia partnership promote real and credible solutions to the epidemic and address other at-risk behaviors threatening the health and well-being of our youth. The program educates teachers, parents, and students about nutrition, exercise and eating disorders through a unique three-step approach: prevention, education and certification – that it hopes will serves as a national model for colleges, public school systems, parent groups, community-based service organizations, and healthcare organizations throughout the country.

The first grant, $270,000 from Affinity Health Plan, is to conduct an efficacy study of Health Corps' impact on behavioral change among high school students with relation to health lifestyles. The two-year grant, "An Evaluation of the Health Corps Program in Urban New York City Schools," is expected to yield data that will be helpful in Health Corps seeking financial support from public agencies and the private sector in the future.

The second award, through the New York City Council and the NYC Department of Health and Mental Health, will provide Health Corps with $250,000 for the school year 2006-2007 to implement the Health Corps program in three additional high schools. This will bring the number of high schools with the Health Corps program up to 11: eight in NYC, two in New Jersey, and one in Pennsylvania. It is expected that Health Corps will be incorporated into at least one high school in California later this year, working directly with Touro University California. The Foundation’s reach expanded to California when Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, invited Touro and Health Corps to participate in the Governor’s Summit on Health, Nutrition and Obesity in Sacramento last year.

The third award, from Arizona-based Vemma Nutrition Company for $100,000, will further support the effort of Health Corps and its volunteers. Vemma, which distributes liquid nutritional products, stated it is committed to supporting Health Corps’ long-term goal of becoming a federally funded program like the Peace Corps. “We intend to support them all the way to their goal,” said Vemma President BK Boreyko, in a press release announcing the sponsorship. “Along with our financial commitment, we will be introducing Health Corps to local school districts in Scottsdale, Arizona and supporting a pilot program.”

Additionally, Health Corps is obtaining support from Australia-based Body Mechanics to develop an elementary school curriculum for health and wellness, which will be piloted in a New York City public school at the third grade level next year. Body Mechanics is a new children’s program aimed at getting children active and embracing the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Health Corps is also partnering with GoSmile, a New York-based oral care company dedicated to promoting health and wellness through proper oral hygiene. GoSmile is committing funding and a percentage of the proceeds from its best-selling product to Health Corps in support of the organization’s mission.

Health Corps continues to receive ongoing support from the Natural Gourmet Institute, a New York-based company whose professional chefs have worked with Health Corps coordinators and their students since 2005 in preparing healthy meals in schools and teaching students how to eat in a healthy fashion. NGI also provides guidance to students regarding kitchen safety and careers in the food industry. Read more...

- compiled with assistance from Nicholas A. Aiello, associate professor of education and communication, School of Education and Psychology, Graduate Division.