New England Toyota Dealerships Are Providing Grants for BOKS
PHOTOGRAPH BY CHERYL CLEGG
New England Toyota dealerships are providing $1,000 grants to 50 schools in the region (totaling $50,000) help schools activate BOKS, a before-school physical activity program. BOKS was created in 2009 by a group of Natick moms and Harvard associate professor of psychiatry John Ratey. The program, which is now a part of Reebok and has since gone international, gets kids moving before the school day begins, and has been shown to improve both behavior and test scores. The 12-week curriculum is offered three school days a week for 40 minutes before school.
The money, reps say, will cover BOKS trainings, CPR certifications, incentives, and other equipment. Elementary and middle schools in the towns listed here with the dealership names can apply for the grants: Boch Toyota (Norwood); Copeland Toyota (Brockton); Hyannis Toyota (Hyannis); Lexington Toyota (Lexington); Prime Boston (West Roxbury); Prime Toyota Route 2 (Lancaster); Prime Toyota Saco (Saco, ME); Route 44 Toyota (Raynham); Toyota of Nashua (Nashua, NH); and Toyota of Watertown (Watertown).
“It means everything for us to have the support of local businesses who share our vision,” said Kathleen Tullie, founder of BOKS, in a statement. “The physical inactivity epidemic is setting up our children for a future that will be filled with obesity, diabetes, cancer and other health related issues. We need to take action and give kids the opportunity to be active. It is our responsibility, and with partners like Toyota we can make it happen. Our hope is that this new partnership with Toyota encourages other companies to take an active role in their communities and foster new relationships with schools to positively impact students’ health. ”
For more information, visit bokskids.org.
