GREELEY — The Weld County community health campaign — Make TODAY Count! — has launched a communitywide initiative to reduce sugary drinks and increase physical activity in children this summer.

The initiative launched on June 1 and involves more than 30 organizations throughout Weld County that work with children from pre-K-12th grade during the summer months.

The participating organizations, which range from libraries and churches to recreation centers and health clinics, have committed to serving zero sugary drinks to their kids this summer, and promoting messages about healthy drinks and physical activity.

“Children’s knowledge and behavior will be measured at the beginning of the summer and at the end of the summer, and progress will be tracked as a community,” stated a release announcing the campaign. “This common measure of success will help us to align our strategies and efforts in order to improve the health and well-being of our children.”

In Colorado, one in four children is either overweight or obese. The state’s rate of childhood obesity is rising at the second-fastest rate in the nation. 

This summer initiative is expected to reach more than 20,000 children in Weld County with the messages that one hour of physical activity and zero sugary drinks are the healthful recommendations. Drinking too many sugary drinks can increase the risk of weight gain, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cavities.

Participating organizations include: the Boys and Girls Club, Chippers Lanes, Christ Community Church, City of Greeley Culture, Parks, & Recreation Department, Greeley Farmers’ Market, Greeley Transitional House, Greeley-Evans School District 6 Wellness , Greeley-Evans School District 6 Goal Getters Soccer Program, Greeley-Evans School District 6 Summer Food Service Program, High Plains Library District, Knock out Fitness, LaSalle Recreation Department, Monfort Children’s Clinic, North Colorado Medical Center Pediatrics Unit, North Colorado Health Alliance, Platteville Library, the Rodarte Center,, Soccer With out Borders, Sunrise Community Health, #1 Child Enrichment Center, United Way of Weld County, University of Colorado Health’s Healthy Kids Club , the Weld Food Bank, the Weld County Department of Health and Environment, and Work out West.

Make TODAY Count! is supported by a community benefit grant from Kaiser Permanente, and coordinated by the North Colorado Health Alliance.

  For more information, please contact Carlee Rosen at crosen.alliance@nocoha.org or 970-350-4673. For more about Make TODAY Count!, visit maketodaycount.org or follow the campaign on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ MakeTodayCountCampaign.