Media Only Contact: John A. Stokes, (202) 673-2195 (DPR); Ketsia Colimon, (202) 527-7540 (Washington Mystics)
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) today announced that on Friday, September 5, players from the Washington Mystics as well as representatives of the Turner Construction Company, will host the 2008 Fort Stanton Children’s Health Fair. The event, which will take place from 5 pm to 8 pm at the Fort Stanton Recreation Center, 1812 Erie Street, SE, will target District elementary school children from Ward 8 and feature Mystics players running exercise drills with participants, giving tips for healthy living, and conducting a fitness question and answer period.
“The gift that this evening of interaction with the Mystics gives our youth cannot be measured,” said Clark E. Ray, director of DPR. “When our children hear directly from those whom they watch on television, it will further reinforce our goal as an agency of teaching the importance of establishing healthy eating and exercise habits in one’s youth. DPR looks forward to growing this health fair in future years.”
As part of the health fair, participants will have a chance to learn about proper nutrition, fitness and exercise. Additionally, the Fort Stanton Civic Association, which has consistently led the way in bringing quality services and programs to the residents of Ward 8, will be on site. Organizers expect approximately 200 children to be in attendance. Each child will also receive a nutritious catered meal sponsored by Turner Construction.
According to Mystics Chief Operating Officer Greg Bibb, “Children’s health and welfare is a vitally important issue and we are proud to partner with Turner Construction and DPR to present a program focused on this topic. Our partnership with Turner has been very beneficial to the Mystics and programs such as these allow us to extend these benefits to our community.”
Susan B.W. Boggs, Vice President of the Turner Construction Company added, “Turner’s commitment to supporting the well-being and future of youth in our communities is at the very heart of our partnership with the Mystics Foundation and the DC Department of Parks and Recreation.”
Opportunities to participate still exist for government agencies and community-based, youth-focused organizations. For more information: contact the DPR Office of Communications at (202) 673-7156.
About the DC Department of Parks and Recreation
The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) presents quality urban recreation and leisure services to residents and visitors to the District of Columbia. The agency supervises and maintains area parks, community facilities, and neighborhood recreation centers as well as coordinates a wide variety of programs including sports leagues, youth development, therapeutic recreation, aquatic programming, outdoor adventure, camping, child care services, and senior citizen activities. Adaptive programs and facilities are available for persons with disabilities.
About the Washington Mystics
The Washington Mystics organization is dedicated to providing affordable entertainment, serving as an impactful community partner and maintaining accessibility to positive female role models. Supported by passionate fans, the Mystics are elite, hardworking athletes continually striving to win a Championship.
About Turner Construction Company
Turner is the leading general builder in the U.S., ranking first or second in the major segments of the building construction field. During 2007, Turner completed $9.6 billion of construction. Turner is the only builder offering clients a nationwide network of offices across the U.S. Founded in 1902, the firm is a subsidiary of HOCHTIEF, a publicly traded company and one of the world's leading international construction service providers. For more information, visit Turner's website at www.turnerconstruction.com/.