ROCHESTER — The Greater Rochester Health Foundation donated 13,000 sets of hats and mittens to children at city schools, child-care centers and community agencies last month to encourage children to play outside.
Staff from the foundation participated in the "Healthy Hero Heartwarming Hands" initiative by distributing the winter accessories at the ABC Head Start on Jefferson Avenue and Audubon School No. 33 on Webster Avenue on Feb. 11. Also that day, children at Ibero-American Action League’s Family Center on Clifford Avenue donned the donated items to play outside.
The donation is part of the foundation’s "Be a Healthy Hero 5.2.1.0" campaign, which encourages healthy eating and limiting children’s access to television and video games.
"Kids need at least one hour a day of active, heart-pumping play," said John Urban, president and chief executive officer of the foundation. "Donating this warm clothing encourages them to be ‘Healthy Heroes,’ and helps to be sure that the cold isn’t a barrier to playing outdoors."
