Pump It Up ‘Jumps’ In to Help Combat Childhood Obesity in America

Posted on October 13, 2010 by Jessica Dees

Nation’s Largest Inflatable Playground Joins Ad Council’s Coalition for Healthy Children

Tempe, AZ – Pump It Up is taking action to help reverse childhood obesity in America with the new Jump It Up! Challenge, a nationwide program that promotes fitness and rewards children for 60 minutes of physical activity on the playgrounds’ giant, colorful inflatables. The challenge coincides with Pump It Up’s membership in the Coalition for Healthy Kids, a national awareness campaign spearheaded by the Advertising Council that addresses childhood obesity in America.

Starting October 15, 2010 children will be able to join the Jump It Up! Challenge at more than 160 Pump It Up locations across the country. Guests will receive a wallet-sized card that will be hole-punched each time they visit Pump It Up and jump for at least an hour, and after six visits, children will receive a free entry to a Pop-In Playtime session.

\"It’s troubling that nearly one-third of children 2 to19 years-old are overweight or obese, but with more than six million children visiting our stores each year, we have a tremendous opportunity to help reverse this trend,\" said Lee Knowlton, CEO and President of Pump It Up. \"The Jump It Up! Challenge is a straightforward and engaging program that allows children to participate in safe and fun physical activity, a critical component to a healthy lifestyle.\"

The launch of the Jump It Up! Challenge follows the roll-out of Pump It Up’s health-conscious Goodie Bags, another initiative aimed at promoting physical activity among children. The bags include a variety of interactive toys, like roto launchers, sidewalk chalk and thundersticks, in stark contrast to the candy and chotchkies that kids bring home from most other birthday parties.

\"We appreciate Pump It Up’s involvement in our Coalition for Healthy Children and we are excited about the opportunity to get the Coalition’s healthy lifestyle messages in front of their customers,\" said Peggy Conlon, President and CEO of The Advertising Council, Inc. \"The Jump It Up! Challenge is a creative way to encourage kids to get an hour of physical activity every day and helps support our goal of addressing childhood obesity.\"