St. Mary's School for the Deaf receives grant in support of whole-body wellness

American Heart Association awards funding for physical activity equipment

By the American Heart Association

Reducing sedentary behavior and increasing physical activity is key to immediate and long-term health for children. That is why the American Heart Association, devoted to world of healthier lives for all, the National Football League (NFL) and the Buffalo Bills have awarded a $1,000 grant to St. Mary’s School for the Deaf in Buffalo. The grant is to be used for physical activity equipment to support students at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf achieving their daily 60-minutes of physical activity.

“The students and staff at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf are honored to be selected to win this grant from the NFL and the American Heart Association,” said Jim Carmody, athletic director and physical education teacher at St. Mary’s School for the Deaf. “Being from Buffalo, we are all loyal fans and, as a community, love our Buffalo Bills. We also understand the importance of physical activity and the benefits of exercise and daily activity. Just like coach Sean McDermott, we trust the process!”

One grant is awarded on behalf of each of the 32 NFL clubs. The national recipient of an additional $1,000 will be announced in the NFL PLAY 60 Super Bowl Fitness Break, which will take place on Feb. 9. It will be followed by an NFL PLAY 60 Draft Fitness Break on April 26. Advanced registration for both broadcasts is required.

Rooted in science, NFL PLAY 60 helps children to develop healthy habits for a better chance of a healthy adulthood. The program encourages kids to get a minimum of 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity each day to meet the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (Department of Health and Human Services, Physical Activity Guidelines, Page 14)

NFL PLAY 60 offers students, teachers and parents a suite of free activities to help reach the recommended 60-minutes of daily physical activity. NFL PLAY 60 resources can be found online at heart.org/NFLPLAY60.

NFL PLAY 60 App: The free NFL PLAY 60 app helps kids get more movement throughout the day by using their activity to control personalized avatars onscreen in a fun interactive environment. Kids can add players to the roster to play catch, train and prepare for competition. App content is available for individual play or in classroom format. The app is available for iOS and Android devices. New this year is group play functionality, which allows classrooms to get active together!

NFL PLAY 60 Exercise Library: In collaboration with the 32 NFL clubs, the NFL PLAY 60 library features kid-friendly exercises to help kids to get their recommended 60-minutes of daily physical activity. The library features 1-3-minute videos of players, mascots and cheerleaders moving more from homes, stadiums and practice fields.

American Heart Association NFL PLAY 60 Playlist: A robust playlist of all things AHA and NFL PLAY 60. This playlist offers past Super Bowl virtual field trips, club exercise videos, combine drills, Kids Day broadcasts, NFL PLAY 60 chapter videos and more! This playlist can inspire hours of activity for your child or students.

The NFL and the American Heart Association have teamed up since 2006 to inspire kids through fun and engaging ways to get physically active. The impact of physical activity on overall mental and physical wellness are essential to help children grow to reach their full potential. Information on the grant process and additional NFL PLAY 60 resources can be found online at heart.org/NFLPLAY60.

About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

About NFL PLAY 60

NFL PLAY 60 is the league's national youth health and wellness campaign to encourage kids to get physically active for at least 60 minutes a day. Since PLAY 60 launched in 2007, the NFL has committed more than $352 million to youth health and fitness through PLAY 60 programming, grants and media time for public service announcements. Over the past decade, the NFL has partnered with leading academic, scientific and nonprofit organizations to help children of all abilities lead healthier, active lives. The NFL and its clubs have supported programs in over 73,000 schools and constructed more than 265 youth fitness zones nationwide – giving more than 38 million children an opportunity to boost their physical activity levels. NFL PLAY 60 is also implemented locally, as part of the NFL's in-school, after-school and team-based programs. For more information, visit www.NFL.com/PLAY60.