Cooper Institute Gets $50,000 for NUTRIGRAM® Educational 3-D Game
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10/21/2010
Grant to Support Development of NUTRIGRAM®, the First 3D Nutritional Game for Schools
The Cooper Institute received a $50,000 grant from The Entertainment Software Association Foundation (ESA) to support NUTRIGRAM®, the first 3D game-based nutrition educational games specifically designed for elementary-age students.
“We are proud to partner with organizations like The Cooper Institute, which are making a difference in the lives of America’s youth,” said Jenny Lai, vice president of the ESA Foundation. “In addition to tackling important issues, our partners are contributing to a more digitally advanced generation.”
NUTRIGRAM will assess children’s behaviors and attitudes toward healthy eating through a question-and-answer game format, which will generate a report for the student, parent, and teacher. Armed with the nutritional knowledge and behavior report for students, NUTRIGRAM has the power to act as a catalyst for positive eating changes. NUTRIGRAM is scheduled to be tested in 14 schools across Texas in 2011. Listed below are the schools to be tested:
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Almeda Elementary (5th grade) – Houston ISD
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Burks Elementary (4th grade) – McKinney ISD
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Burleson Elementary (4th grade) – El Paso ISD
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George Bannerman Dealey (3rd grade) – Dallas ISD
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Hickey Elementary (3rd grade) – Plano ISD
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Martha and Josh Morriss Mathematics and Engineering Elementary School (4th grade) – Texarkana ISD
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Northlake Elementary (5th grade) – Richardson ISD
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Rayburn Elementary (3rd grade) – McAllen ISD
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Red Oak Elementary (4th grade) – Red Oak ISD
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Rosemont Elementary (5th grade) – Dallas ISD
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St. Alcuin Montessori (3rd grade) – Dallas, Private
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Vega Elementary (4th grade) – Vega ISD
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Westcliff Elementary (5th grade) – Fort Worth ISD
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WR Bill Fort Elementary (4th grade) – Royse City ISD
“We appreciate the entertainment software industry’s commitment to connecting students to educational computer and video games,” said Susan Campbell, executive vice president, The Cooper Institute. “The development of NUTRIGRAM will help us in the fight against childhood obesity in a format that’s fun and comfortable for youth.”
The Cooper Institute is also responsible for the health-related fitness assessment, FITNESSGRAM, which is currently administered within 86,000 schools nationwide and evaluates the fitness of more than 14.7 million students annually. By coupling NUTRIGRAM and FITNESSGRAM school-based assessments students, parents, and schools, have a multifaceted snapshot of the health of their children.
In addition the to partnership with ESA, The Cooper Institute was recently awarded a contract from the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) to develop NUTRIGRAM. Under the leadership of Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples, the agency is committed to improving the health of children and reversing the current high obesity rates among our youth. Together, the Texas Department of Agriculture and The Cooper Institute hope to encourage healthier eating habits among children who use NUTRIGRAM.
About The Cooper Institute
The Cooper Institute, established in 1970, by Kenneth H. Cooper, M.D., M.P.H., is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit globally dedicated to preventive medicine research and education. Dr. Cooper is widely considered the "Father of Aerobics" and is credited with sparking today's fitness movement. Now The Cooper Institute is redefining health as a leader by reversing childhood obesity. The Cooper Institute’s FITNESSGRAM® is the fitness assessment of choice in Texas and the U.S.; providing assessments to more than 14 million students each year at more than 86,000 schools nationwide. Beyond research, each year thousands worldwide take courses from The Cooper Institute to become health and fitness leaders. The Cooper Institute’s Personal Trainer Certification exam is nationally accredited by NCCA.
To learn more about all The Cooper Institute’s efforts or to support its life-changing work with a donation, visit www.CooperInstitute.org.
More about the ESA Foundation
The ESA Foundation was created by the American entertainment software industry to provide opportunities that can make a difference in the lives of America's youth. The Foundation is fully supported by proceeds from its limited edition charity game pack's sales and "Nite to Unite for Kids," its annual fund-raiser, which has raised more than $11 million in the last 12 years. For more information about the ESA Foundation, please visit www.theESA.com/foundation.