Beginning at 8:30 a.m. the Miami Rescue Mission at 2020 NW 1st Ave., Miami, with the help of group and individual volunteers will start the day by providing coffee, fruit and pastries for those in attendance.

ARAMARK, State Farm, The Hackett Group and other organizations have helped supply and collect toys for the needy children of South Florida. The Christmas event will last from 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with entertainment including the Regeneration Singers (a group of the formerly homeless) and performances from various local churches and entertainment groups. The Christmas meal is to be served at 11:00 a.m. and the street will be blocked off to accommodate the over 2,000 homeless and needy expected to attend.

At the Broward Outreach Center, 2056 Scott Street, Hollywood, beginning at 2:30 p.m., the Christmas Celebration will begin with dozens of volunteers helping celebrate with formerly homeless men, women and children. Gifts to benefit the formerly homeless will include shoes donated by Running with Sole, cosmetics donated by Ofra Cosmetics and Sunday Riley Cosmetics, clothing donated by Justus Clothing, football tickets donated by the Miami Dolphins, just to name a few.

And, beginning at 10:00 a.m. at the Broward Outreach Center, 1700 Blount Road, Pompano, dozens of individual volunteers and Santa Claus will help give over 200 gifts to the needy children in attendance. All adults will receive a Hope Tote bag filled with hygiene products and clothes. A Christmas feast will be served at 12:00 p.m., along with music, festivities and entertainment.

Rev. Ronald Brummitt, President of the Miami Rescue Mission/Broward Outreach Centers said, “It is a privilege and a blessing to be able to help provide meals and gifts to those in our community who need it the most. We want our homeless to know that they are not forgotten and that we love them. We also want to thank all of our donors and volunteers who help us make this wonderful day an awesome celebration for those that otherwise would have nothing or very little for Christmas.”

Source: National Weekly

Broward County Commissioner Sue Gunzburger continues Broward’s commitment to end childhood obesity as she kicks off the FLIPANY/Let’s Move Broward! program this weekend at the Sixth Annual Memorial Healthcare Systems (FLIPANY) Fun Run, Health Resource Fair and Kids Zone on Saturday, January 7. FLIPANY stands for Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to You.

The event takes place at North Beach Park Broadwalk, 3601 N. Ocean Drive in Hollywood. The Fun Run begins at 7:15 a.m. Commissioner Gunzburger will participate in a presentation ceremony at 9:15 a.m. The event will also feature a Health Resource Fair sponsored by the Children’s Services Council.

“This very venue, a park, is part of the battle plan. Here you can enjoy various levels of active and passive recreation – everything from walking, to jogging, to biking, to swimming and even climbing the stairs of the nearby observation tower. Across A1A you can walk the County boardwalks along the intracoastal. Broward offers 16 other regional parks dispersed throughout County, along with nature centers and natural area sites, perfect for athletic activities at little or minimal cost,” said Commissioner Gunzburger.

Last September, Broward County Commissioners initiated the “Let’s Move Broward!” campaign issuing a proclamation in support of County and local programs that aim to end childhood obesity. Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the first lady, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation. Community partners include the Children’s Services Council, YMCA, Running with Sole, FLIPANY and numerous others. More information is available online at www.flipany.org or call 954-636-2388.

Source: Broward County

Broward County Commissioners have passed a proclamation in support of County and local programs that aim to end childhood obesity. The Broward County Nutrition and Fitness Task Force is a coalition of community groups working together to stop the epidemic of severely overweight children. The formation of the task force and the programs that are to follow lay the foundation for Broward County’s response to first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign.

“This initiative has many components. One is to get children to get out and engage in physical activities, the second is the nutritional component that seeks to end so-called ‘food deserts’ which are communities where fresh foods may not be readily available. We’re encouraging business expansion in those communities,” said Broward Commissioner Ilene Lieberman who co-sponsored the proclamation with Broward Commissioner Dale Holness.

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and nearly 1-in-3 children in America are overweight or obese. The numbers are even higher in African American and Hispanic communities.

“I represent a district that has a number of people who have little to no income and lack the finances and ability to make healthy choices on behalf of their children. I’m involved in many community programs that encourage sports and exercise to benefit children,” said Commissioner Holness.

Under the leadership of the Broward County Commission, the County’s Human Services Department has engaged a number of County agencies and community partners to join in the effort to make Broward a healthier community. Commissioners Lieberman and Holness participated in the “Future First” televised program sponsored by the Children Services Council of Broward County which explores a number of efforts taking place to fight childhood obesity. The “Future First” program on childhood obesity can be seen at broward.org/video.

“Activities to promote health and wellness in Broward’s children are being incorporated at Broward County parks and libraries, through programs offered by the Broward Health department and School District and a number of community provider networks,” said Human Services Deputy Director Mike Elwell. Community partners include the Children’s Services Council, YMCA, Running with Sole, Florida Introduces Physical Activity and Nutrition to You (FLIPANY) and numerous others.

The Community Partnerships Division Health Care Services Section will host a Broward Let’s Move! Initiative Health Food Demonstration on Thursday, September 29, from 1 to 2 p.m. in Room 302 of the Governmental Center, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale. Learn helpful tips on preparing nutritious and sound meals for you and your family. Also, visit the Let’s Move! Exhibit in the Governmental Center Lobby. For more information, contact Community Partnerships Health Care Services Section at 954-357-5385.

Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the first lady, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation. Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, Let’s Move! is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. The initiative gives parents helpful information and fosters environments that support exercise and healthy choices. It also promotes healthier foods for children in school and works to ensure that every family has access to healthy, affordable food.

Source: Broward County

The event was a success, raising over $1,000 for Running with Sole and providing entertainment for the huge crowd that attended to show their support for the participants and for the cause. Over 30 participants performed push-ups until they collapsed while an energized crowd cheered them on and counted out loud. Crowd members provided incentive with goal-oriented donations and friendly competition amongst participants kept things exciting!

All of the videos of participants performing their push-ups at this year’s event (as well as last year’s event), along with individual pictures and bios for each participant, can be viewed at the Facebook page created specifically for the event: Push-Ups for PHSA 2011 at The University of Miami

Source: University of Miami – Miller School of Medicine

Florida Earth Pageants are inviting the community to join them at their annual “Skate for Soles Disco Style” Party and Fundraiser, benefiting Running With Sole, a non for profit organization that collects gently worn and new shoes of all sizes to redistribute to those in need around the world.

The fundraiser event is the idea of 15-year-old Brittney Ronda, Miss Teen Earth Florida 2010 and her project Recycle the Love, a platform she created through the pageant to benefit underprivileged families and children.

The skating party for a good cause will be held at Super Wheels Miami (12265 SW 112th Street) on May 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. and will feature fun activities for all ages and an eco-disco fashion show on skates by the Miss Earth Florida queens.

Admission is $10 and a new or gently used pair of shoes.

Miss Earth is one of the largest pageants in the world and the only dedicated 100 percent to environmental and humanitarian efforts.

Source: Soul Of Miami

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Source: blogtalkradio

From 5 to 9 p.m. come out and enjoy dinner, face painting and entertainment. Drop boxes will be on hand to collect donations of new athletic shoes for children. All shoes collected will be donated to Camillus House.

Food truck The Cheese Steak Gourmet has stepped up to the plate, offering free food to everyone who donates a new pair of kids shoes tomorrow.

Trucks serving dinner at Westland Mall include Chamos on Wheels, Che Grill, The Cheese Steak Gourmet, Daddy’s Grill, Dim Ssam a Gogo, The Fish Box, The Flying Saucer, Kona Ice, Latin Burger, Latin House Grill, Monster Burger, The Red Koi, Snow Caps, Sugar Rush, and Yo Mama’s Paella and Seafood. Westland Mall, 1675 W. 49th Street, Hialeah

Food Trucks at Intracoastal Mall tonight from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Trucks include Cheese Me, Chef On 4 Wheels, Clarabelle’s Cupcakes, DimSsam a Go Go, Divan Bakery, gastroPod, Guiseppe’s Italian Sausage, Kona Ice, Latin Burger, Latin House Grill, Los Chamos, Marly’s Café, Mac’n Food Truck, Motys Gril, Mr. Good Stuff, Nacho Bizness, Nacho Mama’s,Papa’s Tapas, Philly Grill, Rack ‘n Roll, Shao Roma, The Mexzican Gourmet, and The Red Truck. Intracoastal Mall, 3617 NE 163rd Street, Sunny Isles Beach

Food Trucks also at Cypress Creek Road in Fort Lauderdale from 5 to 9:30 p.m. Trucks include 90 Miles To Go, B.C. Tacos, The Chill Spot, Crepe Outdoors, Dog Eat Dog, Latin House Grill, Miso Hungry, and Sugar Yummy Mama. Cypress Creek Road and Powerline Avenue, Fort Lauderdal

Source: miaminewtimes.com