The American Heart Association and the National Football League (NFL) have selected 136 schools nationwide to receive Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™ faculty well-being and NFL PLAY 60™ grants, marking an expansion of their joint program aimed at improving student physical activity and faculty health. The grants, funded by a $350,000 annual pool provided by the NFL, support four key areas: physical activity equipment, flag football, recess enhancements and inclusive physical education, and well-being resources.
According to the American Heart Association, only 1 in 4 children ages 6 to 11 meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, a statistic that worsens to 1 in 8 for youth ages 12 to 17. The grants aim to address this by providing schools with tools to incorporate more movement into the school day. The announcement was made at an NFL PLAY 60 school assembly at Lawton Alternative School in San Francisco, California, with NFL mascots in attendance ahead of Super Bowl LX.
“Every student deserves the chance to learn, grow and feel their best throughout the school day. By expanding this grant program, we are helping schools create more moments of movement and more spaces where kids feel supported in both their physical and emotional well-being,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Heart Association. The NFL PLAY 60 initiative, now in its 20th year, encourages children to get at least 60 minutes of vigorous physical activity daily, aligning with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
Megan Mendoza, Senior Manager of Social Responsibility at the NFL, emphasized the program's commitment: “For two decades, NFL PLAY 60 has been committed to helping kids lead healthier, more active lives, and this year’s expanded grant program reflects that commitment in an even larger way.” This year also introduced the inaugural NFL PLAY 60 Ambassador Class, featuring eight NFL mascots including Sir Purr (Carolina Panthers) and K.C. Wolf (Kansas City Chiefs), to inspire kids to move more for mental and physical well-being.
Grant applications are accepted year-round, with the next round of recipients to be announced in April. Schools interested in applying can find information on NFL PLAY 60 resources and grant opportunities at heart.org/NFLPLAY60. The American Heart Association, a leading source of health information for over a century, continues to fund research and advocate for public health, while the NFL PLAY 60 platform has empowered millions of youth to lead healthier lives.
