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All
Children Exercise Simultaneously
ACES-with-a-Friend IDEA KIT
History/Background
of ACES
Each May, on a designated date and time, millions of school
children all over the globe will exercise simultaneously in
a symbolic gesture of fitness and unity. This non-competitive
program has proven to be educational, motivational and fun.
Presidents of the United States, such as George W. Bush, Bill
Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan have praised ACES.
The program has also received praise from Governors, Senators,
and celebrities from sports and show business. ACES
has reached millions of children, parents and teachers all
over the world, including participants from over 50 countries.
Project
ACES began back in 1989 by Physical Education teacher Len Saunders
of New Jersey. Len wanted to get one school in every state
to exercise at the same time on a specific date in May to motivate
his physical education classes to exercise. Saunders began
a letter writing campaign to schools throughout the United States
to see if they wanted to join in this massive exercise event. Saunders
received confirmations day after day until every state had a participating
school involved.
The program continues to grow each year. The first year
of Project ACES in 1989 had 240,000 children participate worldwide.
In 2000, the State of Michigan alone exceeded that
amount, with 250,000. Michigan continues to lead the
nation with more than 400,000 participants each year.
ACES
aims to educate children about the importance of lifelong fitness.
Exercise can lower the chances of coronary heart disease, which
includes high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and physical
inactivity.
This
annual, global event will occur at 10:00 a.m. local time, on the
first Wednesday of May. May is also National Physical Fitness
and Sports month.
Michigan’s
Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports became
involved in the ACES program in 1999. In it’s first year,
it saw record-breaking participation of 143,000
Michigan school children. The Governor’s Council added the With-A-Friend
designation to encourage parents, teachers, friends and others to
join in the activity. Michigan
has shattered participation records every year since then.
ACES With-a-Friend in Michigan would not be possible without
the support of Farm Bureau Insurance, who since 1999 has been
a statewide sponsor. Farm Bureau Insurance continues
to make contributions that not only make ACES possible statewide,
but helps to enhance the program each and every year.
Their support has allowed the Governor’s Council on Physical
Fitness to provide support material, including an educational flyer and stickers for every participating student.
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