Cartoon Network Launches 4th Annual 'Move It Movement Tour'

By: May. 30, 2013
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Cartoon Network announced today launch plans for its fourth annual MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR, a summer campaign targeting youth 6-14, in partnership with the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition and in support of First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! initiative. The 16-market tour will launch officially June 8 in Atlanta - on the heels of National Physical Fitness & Sports Month in May - and travel throughout the country to prime family locations in 16 key markets, sponsored by local cable affiliates. Traveling as far as key stops along the west coast, the tour will ultimately make its way back to the Midwest, concluding Aug. 11 in Houston.

Presented in a themed, exciting and fun outdoor environment, the MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR will feature multiple activity and learning stations, incorporating such additional core partner organizations as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), NBA/WNBA FIT & NBA Hoop Troop, NFL PLAY 60 and The PGA of America. To help encourage fan turnout, many of the professional league partners will enhance on-site excitement with local team mascot and cheerleader appearances at tour events whenever possible. A national on-air spot premiering Monday, June 3, on Cartoon Network, Boomerang, CartoonNetwork.com, the partner's websites and Cartoon Network's Facebook page - which boasts more than 18.7 million "fans" - will highlight the upcoming 2013 tour overall, its components and online educational materials available at MoveItMovement.com.

Joining Cartoon Network as an official sponsor of the 2013 tour is Subway(R) Fresh Fit for Kids(TM), which will host the tour's Soccer Shootout Challenge and Skate Park/BMX experience.

"Cartoon Network is committed to helping kids live a more balanced and healthy lifestyle, and we're engaging our resources and many partners and to help our audiences explore more fun and unique ways to realize this goal," said Stuart Snyder, president and COO of Cartoon Network. "This annual summer tour has become one of our favorite events, providing a great vehicle for families to get active while experiencing a wide variety of sporting opportunities. It also affords the opportunity for us to distribute educational materials directly into the hands of kids and parents to help them find ways of integrating more physical activity into their daily lives.

The MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR is part of Cartoon Network's long-established, award-winning pro-social efforts to provide support and encouragement in the ongoing battle against childhood obesity through such varied activities as daily recess, health & wellness education and active after-school involvement.

The in-market traveling tour will be supported extensively by Cartoon Network and its participating cable affiliates. Top markets currently scheduled for the 2013 tour route include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco, Houston, Washington, DC, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Seattle, Phoenix, Tampa, Denver, Sacramento, Orlando and Pittsburgh. Local cable affiliates will promote their upcoming tour event with a 30-second television spot that highlights the MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR activities along with the date, time and location of the event.

In an effort to sustain daily fitness and positive nutritional behavior, Cartoon Network is again working with the President's Council on Fitness, Sport & Nutrition to promote youth and family registration and participation - both in-school and at after-school facilities - in the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA+). The MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR will spotlight the PALA+ program at its own activity station, and feature it among Cartoon Network's on-air and digital platforms. PALA+ is the next phase of PALA designed to motivate Americans to make physical activity and healthy eating part of their everyday life. The physical activity requirements for PALA+ remain the same: 60 minutes/day for kids, 30 minutes/day for adults, five days a week for six out of eight weeks. The new nutrition component requires participants to add a weekly healthy eating goal and build upon those goals throughout the same six-week period. Individuals who achieve the physical activity and healthy eating goals will receive a certificate signed by the Council Co-chairs Drew Brees and Dominique Dawes.

"Research we've read, and experts we've met with, make it clear that regular, active play provides not only necessary physical exercise, but it makes kids feel good and do better at whatever they set out to do," said Alice Cahn, Vice president of social responsibility for Cartoon Network. "The MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR is also designed for kids and families to try sports they may have watched but never had the chance to play. With our sports league partners, kids have a chance to learn new skills and gain both confidence and competence. It's a program we're very proud of and we are delighted that so many families have told us that this event is something they now look forward to each year."

Families planning to visit and participate in the MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR can enjoy a host of activities:

· NBA/WNBA FIT & NBA Hoop Troop - kids can demonstrate their fitness level by testing their basketball skills and shoot against the clock for prizes;

· The PGA of America Driving Range - updated to reflect the new PGA Sports Academy and its goal of developing young social and competitive golfers, kids are invited to drive the ball for accuracy and distance with The PGA driving range. Top scores are posted on the PGA Sports Academy leaderboard;

· NFL PLAY 60 - kids can practice a variety of football-themed activities, including running patterns and passing skills;

· Subway(R) Fresh Fit for Kids(TM) Soccer Shootout Challenge and Skate Park/BMX Experience - At the challenge, kids can show off their footwork and take aim at a custom soccer goal; while over at the park, BMX and skateboard experts perform high-flying demonstrations followed by personal interactive safety and riding tips sessions for kids;

· and the Let's Move!/PALA+ booth - a station set aside specifically for registration materials, nutrition tips and further information promoting participation with Let's Move! and the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award.

The tour also will feature a Cartoon Network Chill Zone, a themed area to refuel (water) and recharge while sampling some of the best new programming, online activities and premium items from Cartoon Network. The Chill Zone also offers a green screen photo activity where kids can be captured "within" the worlds of their favorite cartoons, such as Adventure Time, Regular Show, Teen Titans GO!, The Amazing World of Gumball, Ben 10 Omniverse and Legends of Chima. Additionally, families can learn more about Cartoon Network's Stop Bullying: Speak Up initiative by taking a personal pledge against bullying, pick-up key educational information and enjoy free premiums that support the campaign messages.

Further information about the MOVE IT MOVEMENT TOUR, including specific market locations, dates and times, can be found at www.MoveItMovement.com. Materials spotlighted at the dedicated site will include First Lady Michelle Obama's taped messages encouraging youngsters to participate with the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award and Let's Move! initiatives. Additional promotional marketing items will include event posters customizable for each stop along the tour, along with ad slicks, flyers, press information and web banner art for local and national partners.



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