About Us

Who we are

Action for Healthy Kids is the nation’s leading nonprofit and largest volunteer network fighting childhood obesity and undernourishment by working with schools to improve nutrition and physical activity to help our kids learn to eat right, be active every day and be ready to learn. We provide expertise, volunteers, programs and resources nationwide through a unique collaboration of more than 11,000 members – professionals, parents, educators, community volunteers, business leaders and students – in partnership with professional associations, government agencies and corporations. 

Our vision

All kids develop the lifelong habits necessary to promote health and learning.

Our mission

To engage diverse organizations, leaders and volunteers in actions that foster sound nutrition and good physical activity in children, youth and schools.

Our strategic goals

During 2009-2012, we will work with 25,000 schools and 10 million children to help them adopt strong wellness policies and programs that teach kids about eating healthy and being active every day. Our efforts will focus on collaborating with schools that lack facilities, resources and expertise to provide students with opportunities to eat right and be active at school so they are ready to learn.

Our history

Created in 2002, Action for Healthy Kids was a response to then-U.S. Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher’s public call to action to work with schools to fight the national epidemic of childhood obesity.  At its founding, Action for Healthy Kids was a small and diverse group of national associations, organizations and individuals in the areas of nutrition, fitness, health and education committed to creating healthy learning environments for kids.

In only seven years, Action for Healthy Kids and organizations with a shared mission have turned the spotlight on the childhood obesity crisis so it’s now widely acknowledged by health and public health professionals, government leaders, school systems and the popular media – galvanizing invaluable support from a wide range of constituencies.

Action for Healthy Kids is today a leader in this national movement working at the federal and state levels and in school districts and school buildings nationwide.

Our accomplishments

Our belief is simple: Healthy kids learn better.

• During the 2008-09 school year, Action for Healthy Kids reached nearly 4 million kids in 8,000 schools in nearly 1,100 school districts across the country. 
• Ranks of volunteers have grown from fewer than 700 in 2002, to more than 11,000 in 2009.
• A powerful partner network of more than 65 – and growing –national organizations and associations representing leaders in health, education, nutrition, fitness, business, government agencies and other organizations that serve and care about youth.
• We continue to develop and refine a portfolio of programs and services to meet the growing need. These range from nutrition and physical activity programs for before, during and after school to expert coaching on how to develop, implement and evaluate a school wellness policy or action plan.