Portland Trail Blazers' Evan Turner Teams Up with American Diabetes Association for "Let's Play Portland" Initiative

PORTLAND, Ore., Nov. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Portland Trail Blazer Evan Turner announced today a $50,000 donation to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to support local initiatives such as "Let's Play Portland," in partnership with the David Douglas School District (DDSD) and Providence Health and Services.

"Let's Play Portland" works with students at Menlo Park and Lincoln Park Elementary Schools to help prevent and manage childhood obesity and chronic conditions through wellness and nutrition education and physical activity, as well as drive a measurable increase in the physical activity of third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students attending two DDSD schools, Menlo Park and Lincoln Park in Multnomah County. The program includes implementation of CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Child Health) curriculum and measurement of outcomes from Sqord activity trackers.

Turner's involvement with "Let's Play Portland" is inspired by his personal connection to diabetes, as several members of his family are affected by type 2, and his desire to help in changing the trajectory of this chronic illness that affects far too many Americans. Nearly 5,000 children are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes each year in the United States. Programs like "Let's Play Portland" can provide lifestyle interventions that can delay or prevent a diabetes diagnosis.

In recognition of World Diabetes Day, Turner will visit Menlo Park Elementary on Tuesday, November 14. Turner will spend time with students talking about the importance of health and wellness, and participating in a stretching session and pantomime game from the CATCH curriculum.

WHAT:
Portland Trail Blazer Evan Turner visits Menlo Park Elementary with American Diabetes Association's "Let's Play Portland" initiative

WHEN:
Tuesday, November 14, 2017 from 2:30-3:05 p.m.

WHERE:
Menlo Park Elementary School
12900 NE Glisan Street
Portland, OR 97230

CONTACT:
Turner will be available for interviews at the event. Media contact Lindsey Mitchell: 504-390-5116 or [email protected].

About Let's Play Portland

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is proud to partner with the David Douglas School District (DDSD), and Providence Health and Services. "Let's Play Portland" was developed through a generous two-year grant from Providence Health and Services. The goal for "Let's Play Portland" is to demonstrate measurable health and wellness impact for more than 1,000 students. The program is replicable, self-sustaining and designed to create a school-based, community culture of wellness, with the potential to exponentially improve the health for thousands of current and future DDSD K-5 students. CATCH is based on the CDC Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model in which health education, school environment, and family/community involvement work together to support youth in a healthy lifestyle. Supported by over 25 years of research and more than 130 peer-reviewed academic papers, CATCH is proven to reduce overweight and obesity among children and is the most cost-effective child obesity prevention program in existence. Sqord connects kids to a fun social platform that inspires, tracks, and rewards everyday physical activity in their own communities. Students and teachers wear a Sqord Activity Pod that records the intensity and duration of their physical activity, and then translates that activity into points, wins, and other rewards to make healthy, active play more fun.

About the American Diabetes Association

Nearly half of American adults have diabetes or prediabetes; more than 30 million adults and children have diabetes; and every 21 seconds, another individual is diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. Founded in 1940, the American Diabetes Association (Association) is the nation's leading voluntary health organization whose mission is to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The Association drives discovery by funding research to treat, manage and prevent all types of diabetes, as well as to search for cures; raises voice to the urgency of the diabetes epidemic; and works to safeguard policies and programs that protect people with diabetes. In addition, the Association supports people living with diabetes, those at risk of developing diabetes, and the health care professionals who serve them through information and programs that can improve health outcomes and quality of life. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit diabetes.org. Information from both of these sources is available in English and Spanish. Find us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).

SOURCE American Diabetes Association