The American Heart Association has awarded wellness grants to 69 schools across 37 states to address the growing health crisis affecting American children, where only 1 in 4 children gets the recommended daily physical activity and approximately 1 in 3 is overweight or obese. These grants, distributed through the organization's Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™ initiatives, provide critical resources to create healthier learning environments nationwide.
The grants enable schools to purchase physical education equipment, upgrade playground facilities, install water filling stations, and provide counseling services. These resources are designed to help more students and staff become physically active, make smarter nutritional choices, manage stress effectively, and ultimately live longer, healthier lives. Lee Shapiro, J.D., volunteer chair of the board of the American Heart Association and managing partner at 7wireVentures, emphasized that "Healthy living should be possible no matter where you live. Every school has unique needs, and these grants provide resources that support students, staff and their communities based on their unique needs."
The significance of this initiative extends beyond immediate school improvements. The Kids Heart Challenge and American Heart Challenge reach more than 10 million students in approximately 20,000 American schools annually. Participants and their families receive education on nutrition, stress management, tobacco and vaping avoidance, and learn to recognize warning signs of heart attacks and strokes. Additionally, students are taught Hands-Only CPR, a lifesaving skill that children as young as nine can use during cardiac emergencies.
Research from the American Heart Association journals indicates concerning trends in children's health, with studies available at https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001303 documenting the physical activity and obesity statistics that prompted this intervention. Additional research published in JAMA Network further supports the need for comprehensive health interventions in educational settings.
All schools participating in either challenge program are eligible to apply for these grants, which are awarded multiple times each school year. The program represents a significant investment in preventive health measures that could potentially reduce long-term healthcare costs and improve quality of life for future generations. Schools interested in participating can register for the 2025–26 school year through the American Heart Association's official channels.
