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Health Through Fitness Initiatives

Promoting Access and Incentives for Americans to Be Active and Healthy

Working hand-in-hand with our members to develop a sound position and industry representation, SGMA has successfully worked to:

• provide funding programs for better physical education
• protect and preserve national, state, and local parks and recreation space
• generate awareness and action to help our nation become healthier and more active
• create new sports organizations, including specialty-sport trade organizations and leagues
• fund reinvestment programs for our member companies to distribute among local communities

Click here to register for  SGMA's 2012 National Health Through Fitness Days and join in our efforts to make America a healthier and more active nation.

Click here to access a copy of SGMA's 2011 National Health Through Fitness Day Briefing Book.

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Health Through Fitness Issues on Capitol Hill 

Family Sports and Fitness
Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) - H.R. 2649
Empowering Americans to Be Active, Healthy, and Fit

Recently introduced by SGMA and other physical activity proponents, the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) initiative would encourage increased physical activity by easing the financial burden of being physically active. If passed, PHIT would expand existing pre-tax accounts to allow for payment of expenses related to physical activity and team sports, including equipment.

Click here to read general overview of PHIT.

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Youth Activity and Quality Physical Education
Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP)
Teaching Children How to Live Active and Healthy Lives

The Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) was designed to jumpstart innovative physical education programs in America's schools. Introduced in 2001 by SGMA and PE4life, PEP had provided almost $800 million in physical education funding to schools and community-based organizations to implement and expand quality physical education programs student K-12.

PEP results are showing that access to quality P.E. can teach children valuable lifelong Health-through-Fitness and help save lives.

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Employee Health
Workforce Health Improvement Program (WHIP) 
A Smart Investment towards a Healthier America

The Workplace Health Improvement Program (WHIP) would encourage more employees to be physically fit by exempting employer contributions to an employee's health club membership from federal taxes. By enacting WHIP, Congress has the opportunity to create the most conducive environment possible for promoting additional workplace fitness programs at companies, both large and small.

Given its relatively low cost to high return on investment, WHIP represents a win-win wellness benefit that will put more money back into Americans' pockets while at the same time promoting healthier lifestyles and reducing national healthcare expenditures.