The “Show Me City” is gearing up to have some fun focused solely on families and fitness!
During September and October, the City is participating in a statewide health initiative—IT’S TIME TEXAS Healthy at H-E-B Community Challenge—which encourages people to be active and live a healthier lifestyle. Starting Sept. 1, individuals can HEBCommunityChallenge to sign up.
Locally, the contest will feature two main activities:
“We can really win this,” Mayor Owen said at the Aug. 20 City Council meeting, announcing the City’s involvement. “This is a great program.” During the meeting, he and fellow Council Members signed the IT’S TIME TEXAS Healthy at H-E-B Community Challenge Pledge—part of the eligibility to participate.
The program works on a point system and residents can visit the Challenge website to share their activities, thereby building their community’s overall score. Communities will be divided into three categories based on population: small (0-100,000), medium (101,000-300,000) and large (300,001 and above). The cities with the most points in each category will win.
Four main audience types can help generate points for their city: (1) Mayor, (2) Schools, (3) Businesses, Agencies and Community Organizations, and (4) Individuals. The more events these groups participate in or host, the more points the City gains. All activities will be tracked on the Challenge website and winners will receive special recognition from government officials, media coverage and a sign designating their accomplishment.
The competition “spotlights and rewards the many health and fitness activities and initiatives happening in communities across the state,” said John Waterman, Manager of Marketing and Communications for ACTIVE Life, an Austin-based non-profit spearheading the project.
Expanding the program’s reach in the community, Missouri City has teamed up with Fort Bend Independent School District representatives to bring the message to the classroom. “We’re happy to be part of a program that gets kids excited about health and fitness,” said Stephanie Kellam, UnitedHealthcare Activate for Kids School District Wellness Coordinator in Fort Bend ISD. “It’s great to see the community and schools working closely together on this healthy initiative.”
Houston Community College also has committed to being involved. “We are proud to be a member of the Healthy at H-E-B Community Challenge, which promotes a healthy way of living,” said Andrew Johnson, Campus Manager at HCC in Missouri City. “Our goal is to educate the mind and body, because a healthy body leads to a healthy mind.”
Missouri City H-E-Bs, are thrilled to have an opportunity to partner with the City and other community organizations on this initiative. “At H-E-B, we have focused a lot of energy on developing a culture of health for our employee Partners,” said Kate Rogers, Vice President for Corporate Communication and Engagement for H-E-B. “The next big step is engaging our customers in our health journey; our goal is to be the health resource for all Texans who are looking for guidance and support.”
For details on the project and upcoming events, visit the City’s website www.missouricitytx.gov; watch Missouri City Television (Ch. 16 on Comcast and Ch. 99 on AT&T U-verse) and join the Twitter conversation #ItsTimeMCTX.