News

SILVER SPRING, MD – PHIT America, today, announces that ASICS America Corporation, the true performance brand, is now one of PHIT America’s instrumental partners in helping children move. The partnership marks another milestone in ASICS’ continued effort to create opportunities for children to lead an active lifestyle through sport in U.S. schools through the PHIT America GO! Grants program.

The partnership will support new physical activity programs throughout U.S. schools by leveraging the PHIT America GO! Grants program. These GO! Grants provided by ASICS will jumpstart active lifestyles to thousands of children. In addition, the partnership brings further support of PHIT America in helping Congress pass the PHIT Act. The PHIT Act will change current federal tax law to allow for the deduction or use of pre-tax dollars to cover expenses related to sports, fitness, and other physical activities.

Gene McCarthy, President/CEO of ASICS America Corporation, explains why he believes in the GO! Grants and PHIT America. “Our industry must grow participation in sports. Overall, with the downward trend in sports participation – especially in youth sports – ASICS is dedicated to promoting and driving participation in sports. We have and always will play a central role in our consumers’ personal fitness journey, which is why PHIT America is a great partner for our brand. We look forward to continuing this movement and seeing the impact of the dedication and mission of PHIT America as a result of our future programming together.”

“ASICS President and CEO Gene McCarthy is in a class by himself. I have met no other leader in the sports & fitness industry who is more committed to growing sports participation by getting more kids active in schools, which is ‘where the kids are,’ ” says Jim Baugh, Founder, PHIT America.

“National research on the negative magnitude of physical inactivity is powerful,” continues Baugh. “It reveals American children have become more and more sedentary which has both a negative effect on children’s health and their academic performance. That’s why these PHIT America GO! Grants are so important. They help stimulate physical activity for children.”

GO! Grants are awarded to school P.E. programs by PHIT America, with the support of KIDS in the GAME. In the past two years, almost 300 PHIT America GO! Grants have been awarded nationally to school P.E. programs – helping more than 100,000 school children get physically active. The PHIT America GO! Grants help schools that are in desperate need of gear, programming or training for their physical activity programs.

There is a huge need for these PHIT America GO! Grants, as 48% of all high schools have no physical education programs, with many school districts have even cutting recess. With the average budget for physical education programs throughout the U.S. at only $762 per year for an entire school, it is estimated that more than 40,000 schools throughout the U.S. are in need of help.

The PHIT America GO! Grants range in size from $1,000 to $5,000 per school. In every PHIT America GO! Grant application, schools indicate the need of their students to develop their motor skills, reduce obesity, and increase physical literacy and fitness.

“As we speak, PHIT America is seeking support from corporations, organizations and individuals which have an interest in health, fitness, and children’s education,” adds Baugh. “Physical inactivity is a national crisis in the U.S. Sitting has become the new smoking. This investment is critical to the future of our kids and to America, as a nation.”

Founded in January 2013, PHIT America is a non-profit campaign focused on overcoming the severe ramifications of the ‘Inactivity Pandemic’ through three strategic approaches – education, supporting school-based activity programs, and advocating – which will get Americans, especially our youth, more active, fit and healthy.

For more information about PHIT America, visit PHITAmerica.org.