American Heart Association Awards Wellness Grants to 69 Schools Nationwide to Combat Childhood Health Crisis
The American Heart Association has distributed wellness grants to 69 schools across 37 states to address critical health disparities among children, where only 25% meet daily physical activity recommendations and one-third face overweight or obesity challenges.
The American Heart Association has awarded wellness grants to 69 schools across the United States to address concerning childhood health statistics, where only 1 in 4 children gets the recommended daily physical activity and approximately 1 in 3 is overweight or obese. These grants, distributed through the Association's Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge initiatives, provide critical resources for schools to create healthier learning environments.
The funding supports diverse health and wellness needs, including physical education equipment purchases, playground upgrades, water filling stations, and counseling services. These resources enable more students and staff to increase physical activity, improve nutrition, manage stress, and adopt longer, healthier lifestyles. Lee Shapiro, J.D., volunteer chair of the board of the American Heart Association, emphasized that "Healthy living should be possible no matter where you live," noting that each school receives tailored support based on their unique community needs.
All schools participating in the Kids Heart Challenge or American Heart Challenge programs are eligible to apply for these grants, which are awarded multiple times each school year. The current grant cycle recipients represent 37 states, demonstrating the nationwide reach of this initiative. The complete list of awardees and project summaries is available through the Association's resources.
The Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge programs collectively reach more than 10 million students in approximately 20,000 American schools annually. Participants and their families gain essential health knowledge, learning proper nutrition practices, stress management techniques, tobacco and vaping avoidance, and how to recognize heart attack and stroke warning signs. Students also receive training in Hands-Only CPR, a lifesaving skill that children as young as nine can learn and potentially use during cardiac emergencies.
Research published in Circulation and JAMA underscores the urgency of addressing childhood health trends, particularly concerning physical inactivity and obesity rates. Schools interested in participating in future grant cycles can register for the 2025–26 school year through the American Heart Association's official channels.