Governor Larry Hogan Announces Three Maryland Schools to Receive Don’t Quit! Fitness Centers

Schools to Receive $100K for State-of-the-Art Facilities from National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Governor Larry Hogan today announced that three Maryland’s schools have been selected to receive a Don’t Quit! Fitness Center through the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils. This multi-million dollar physical fitness campaign has named Buck Lodge Middle School in Adelphi, Newport Mills Middle School in Kensington, and Vanguard Collegiate Middle School in Baltimore as recipients of the fitness center for demonstrating outstanding leadership in getting and keeping their students fit.

“Encouraging kids to keep active is critical to ensuring that the next generation of Marylanders lead healthy lifestyles. We are excited to partner with the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils to bring this innovative program to Maryland,” said Governor Hogan. “These schools have each demonstrated fitness excellence and will now benefit from state-of-the-art fitness centers that both the students and community can utilize to incorporate fitness and wellness into their daily lives.”

Maryland was selected to participate in the Don’t Quit! campaign, along with Louisiana, Colorado, and Oregon, in January 2017. Applications were accepted from February 1 - May 31, after which the three winning schools were selected. The three state-of-the-art fitness centers will be unveiled during ribbon cutting ceremonies this upcoming fall.

“When I declared war on childhood obesity, I knew it would take an army of leaders to make a difference. I was thrilled when Governor Hogan joined our efforts to help put a stop to this disease in Maryland,” said Jake "Body by Jake" Steinfeld, chairman of the National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils. “The National Foundation is really excited to award three Maryland schools with new fitness centers that will have a lasting impact on kids and their community now, and well into their future!”

The National Foundation for Governors’ Fitness Councils program will make its way into all 50 states in the coming years. Each fitness center is financed through public/private partnerships with companies including The Coca-Cola Company, Amerigroup Foundation and Nike, and does not rely on taxpayer dollars or state funding. TuffStuff Fitness International provides all of the fitness equipment, which is manufactured in the United States. The foundation’s goal is to build a nation of the fittest, healthiest kids in the world. For more information about the National Foundation, visit www.natgovfit.org.