THE ISSUEIn Philadelphia, 40% of school-aged children are overweight or obese. Unless we do something to change the course of this epidemic, today’s kids could be the first in U.S. history to lead shorter lives than their parents.

OUR RESPONSEThe Food Trust has created HYPE (Healthy You. Positive Energy.), a youth wellness initiative that empowers middle and high school students to become leaders for healthy change in their schools and communities. Utilizing hip-hop, social marketing and special events, HYPE conveys the importance of being healthy in a fresh and relevant way.

HYPE youth councils assess their school food and fitness environments in order to design and implement healthy action plans. HYPE councils have already led hundreds of healthy initiatives, including launching fitness clubs and movement breaks and planting school gardens.

HYPE hosts annual Leadership Summits to bring together youth from across Philadelphia to get energized, connect with peers, develop leadership skills and gain new ideas to bring HYPE back to their schools.

HYPE increases students’ confidence in their ability to make healthy changes for themselves and their peers. After attending the youth leadership summit, 94% of students felt “excited about making healthy changes in their school and the community,” and 97% reported they were “proud to be healthy.”

Be Healthy. Be Happy. Be You. Be HYPE.

PHILLYHealthy, Active & Smoke-Free

Join the Movement bethehype

@HYPEPHILLY

HEALTHY YOU.

POSITIVE ENERGY.