UA PR Students to Kickoff Childhood Obesity-Awareness Campaign

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Public Relations Competition Team will implement the “It’s Your Move!” campaign with a kickoff event at the Tuscaloosa YMCA Feb. 8 from 3-5 p.m.

The purpose of the campaign is to encourage children to make healthier choices each day between the hours of 3 and 5 p.m.

“Because of the challenges families face today, childhood obesity is an overwhelming problem to address,” team member Jessica Colburn said. “We have focused on making a difference between 3 and 5 p.m. because that is when children have the most activity choices to make on their own, and we want them to feel empowered to take charge of their life.”

The main activity of “It’s Your Move!” is an educational obstacle course that teaches children the effects of lifestyle choices. The event will have different examples of “dream jobs” to inspire children to be healthier. Children participating are part of the YMCA’s after-school program, and the event is free.

Local celebrities at the event will include UA athletes, firemen, a local chef, local television anchor and UA’s Lunabotics team, a competitive engineering team. The University of Alabama’s team consists of four UA public relations students from the College of Communication and Information Sciences: Jessica Colburn, Hoover; Leighton Brown, Orlando, Fla.; Carolyn Dawson, Southlake, Texas; and Jessica Wiger, Ashburn, Va.

The UA team is competing in the Bateman Competition, a national competition between participating universities nationwide sponsored by the Public Relations Student Society of America. The client-of-record for the 2012 Bateman Competition will be United Way Worldwide.

Competing teams will partner with a local United Way in their community and may also partner with one or more local organizations whose mission offers an opportunity to create even greater collaboration and impact through local cause-related public relations campaigns. Each year, the competition executes a different topic, and this year’s topic is childhood obesity.

In addition to the kickoff event at the Tuscaloosa YMCA, the team will host additional after-school programs:

• Feb. 10: Holt Elementary School, 3-5 p.m.
• Feb. 13: Cottondale Elementary School, 3-5 p.m.
• Feb. 15: Boys and Girls Club of West Alabama, 2:30-5:30 p.m.
• Feb. 18: Girl Scouts of Tuscaloosa, 2-4 p.m.