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Pledge by: Desert Healthcare Foundation 
Location: Coachella Valley, California 

THE PROBLEM 
Schools are powerful places to shape the health and well-being of students and staff, yet many don’t have the financial or technical resources to build healthier learning environments. And access to healthy foods and physical activity not only has a direct impact on students’ ability to learn, but helps ensure kids grow into healthy adults. 

THE SOLUTION 
Following the Clinton Foundation’s Health Matters conference last January, the Desert Healthcare Foundation made a pledge subsequent grant to the Alliance for a Healthier Generation – a partnership between the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association to reduce childhood obesity in the United States. The Desert Healthcare Foundation together with Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet contributed a grant to bring the Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program to three districts in the Palm Springs area beginning in the 2012-2013 school year. 

Hayden Ross, Healthy Schools Program Manager for the Coachella Valley, has been meeting with school administrators from these districts to begin the Healthy Schools Program implementation. So far 46 schools serving a population of students with low socioeconomic status have joined the program to advance the health of those students and the school staff. 

THE IMPACT 

• The Alliance’s Healthy Schools Program works with more than 15,000 schools across the nation, reaching more than 9 million students, as well as teachers and other school staff. 

• 80% of Alliance schools nationwide have made measurable progress toward healthier policies and programs. 

• 50% have improved the nutritional value of their school meals. 

• Over 50% dedicate at least 20% of afterschool program time to physical activity.