Children's Wellness Festival
Took place on Saturday, September 27, 2008
at Metz Middle School, Manassas, VA
Children age 7 through 17 attended the Children's Wellness Festival! Co-sponsored by the Manassas, Gainesville/Haymarket and Bull Run Rotary Clubs, this event was designed to provide an overall health education and limited screening to children in need.
Four goals of this annual event are:
1) To reach as many children in need of health services in the community as possible;
2) To educate those children and their parents in healthy lifestyles through proper nutrition and exercise;
3) To make referrals to professional medical services when a need is identified;
4) To provide information on resources within the community to accomplish and
maintain a safe and healthy lifestyle.
The Children's Wellness Festival encompases a county fair style approach with stations where children and their parents can be evaluated for/learn about:
- Height/Weight/BMI
- Chest/Heart/Lungs
- Eyes/Ears
- Dental
- Physical Fitness
- Nutrition
- Hand Washing
- Gang Awareness
- Fingerprinting
- Disability Services
- Boys & Girls Club
- After School Activities Throughout the Community
All of the stations and exhibitors provided information in both English and Spanish.
Local Rotary Clubs are partnered with several community groups in order to accomplish this huge undertaking. Some partners include:
- Manassas City Public School Health Advisory Board
- Prince William County Nurses Association
- SERVE
- Lions Club
- Boys & Girls Club
- Freedom Aquatic & Fitness Center
- Virginia Cooperative Extension
- WIC
- YMCA
In 2007, approximately 250 children participated and in 2008, approximatly 300 children attended. Some serious dental and vision needs were identified. Through the efforts of volunteers and sponsors, we were able to help several of these children get the medical attention they needed. One six year old girl who needed immediate extensive dental work was provided dental services by Dr. Elaine Souers (a Bull Run Rotary Club Member) at a 20% discount. The financial resources were provided through sponsor donations and Rotary grants.
For more information, please contact Phyllis Watson at pjwatson22@msn.com. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Bill Crouch at 703-368-6263.
For a list of sponsors, please click here.
