Sponsored by
About Us
Healthy Futures Overview
Healthy Futures is an Alaskan based, statewide grassroots initiative founded in 2003 by two parents, the late Bonny Sosa Young and her husband Sam Young. Bonny and Sam were concerned with the growing obesity epidemic in Alaska and felt if they stood by doing nothing, they were part of the problem versus the solution.
Our mission is simple; empower Alaska's youth to build the habit of daily physical activity through two core programs, the Healthy Futures Activity Log and increasing youth attendance at community recreational events. In addition, Healthy Futures provides youth with access to positive, physically active role models through the literary publication, Healthy Heroes, and classroom/event participation by Olympians Kikkan Randall and Aelin Peterson.
Healthy Futures' Activity Logs are an incentive based, record-keeping tool for students and teachers. With parental supervision, children record their daily physical activity during a one-month period on a Healthy Futures' Activity Log. In order for the Activity Log to be qualified, the student must have 30 minutes of vigorous activity outside of their physical education classroom, three times per week for four consecutive weeks. Students turn in completed logs to participating Healthy Futures school administrators for monthly incentives. Students that turn in three consecutive qualified logs and/or participate in three community events, or any combination of the two are eligible for the grand prize incentive drawing. The grand prize is a $300 sports package of the student's choice.
At the community events, we celebrate the last child to finish as if they were the first. Healthy Futures supports the youth division within each community event. Healthy Futures provides medals and bibs, solicits volunteers, contributes during the planning process to add the "fun factor", and promotes the event. Our promotional efforts include, but are not limited to; media alerts, press releases, radio, print media, in-school posters and email marketing. In addition, Scholarships enable single parent families to participate in community events that they might not be able to afford. By participating in community events families connect with their community. Proceeds from many community events, such as the Ski 4 Kids, are re-invested in outreach programs that benefit at-risk youths.
In 2011, our goal is to introduce the "Get Active Recess" to an Anchorage Title 1 Elementary School. The Get Active recess is a collaboration of partners assisting children to increase fitness at recess with fun physical activities and by learning how to play. The idea is that if students can learn to play, they will build the habit of daily physical activity into their lives because it is fun. Participants will earn points toward transportation to two Healthy Futures' events. Funding permitting, the "Get Active Recess" prototype will then be introduced to other Title 1 schools and communities in Alaska in the Fall of 2011
© 2011 Alaska Sports Hall of Fame - Healthy Futures. All Rights Reserved.
"Healthy Futures is the signature program of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, Federal Tax ID# 810649085"
Healthy Futures Spokespersons
Aelin Peterson
Aelin Peterson grew up in Alaska and graduated from West Valley in Fairbanks. While at West Valley, she was a two-time state high school ski champion and was ranked as the number one junior female skier in the United States for three years. She raced on the World Juniors and World University Games teams while in college at Northern Michigan University. Aelin earned a Bachelor of Science (Economics) with a 3.97 GPA. Upon graduation, she left skiing to become a stock trader for a mutual fund company. Aelin returned to skiing five years later to chase her Olympic dream. The dream became reality when she raced in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games. She was the 2003 NorAm sprint champion and competed in the 2003 World Championships. She retired from ski racing in 2004 but remains passionate about promoting health and fitness in Alaska. She and her husband Luke are currently racing to keep up with their four year old son and two year old daughter.
Contact Us
We welcome and value your feedback about our Web site, mission and core programs.
Harlow Robinson - Alaska Sports Hall of Fame Executive Director
Healthy Futures Activity Log and Events Coordination
Contact for: requesting incentives, bibs & medals for existing events
Cell: 907-240-3684
Cindy Norquest
Healthy Futures Program Director
Contact for: General Information, New Events, Event Scholarships and Program Info
Cell: 907-529-4276
Kikkan "Kikkanimal" Randall
Born in Salt Lake City, UT on New Years Eve in 1982, and then raised in Alaska since age three, Kikkan has always been an athlete at heart, aspiring to the Olympics and beyond. She is a 2001 graduate of East High School and is currently an undergraduate business major at Alaska Pacific University. Kikkan has raced in three Olympic Games; was the first US woman to win a World Cup and a World Championship medal in cross-country skiing; and owns fifteen US National Championships. In addition to her athletic and academic pursuits, Kikkan is passionately involved with Healthy Futures and Fast and Female, organizations that promote the benefits of healthy active lifestyles to youth.
THE CHALLENGE
