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Recognizing
the health crisis that exists with today's youth, fitness consultant,
Tony Iaquinto, and school counselor, Susan Beauchamp, joined
together to provide children in the Duval County Public School System
with information and instruction on how to lead a "healthy lifestyle!"
This partnership marked the beginning of the "Commit-to-be-Fit-Kids"
program on August 21, 2002, at Seabreeze Elementary School. Since the
debut of the program, students and parents, alike, have improved their
eating habits, increased their fitness levels, and have been given the
Presidential Active Lifestyle award for their achievements.
It's
no secret that many of America's children are overweight, poorly
nourished, and participate in a limited amount of physical activity.
Obesity among children is at epidemic levels and often leads to serious
health problems. If this trend continues, students, communities, and
our nation will suffer!
Our schools are currently faced with a
dilemma since administrators and teachers are under pressure to improve
academic achievement while being held accountable for high stakes
assessments. Though they understand and value the importance of
nutrition, health, and physical activity as the key to a student's
growth and development, they are not encouraged nor are they rewarded
for providing leadership in these areas. Iaquinto and Beauchamp
strongly believe that nutrition and physical education must be a major
component of a school's curriculum because of the inextricable link
between healthy students and their academic achievements! Consider
these facts:
- One out of every four children in the United States is considered overweight.
- Twenty-two
percent of children ages 5-10 years have one or more risk factors for
heart disease or diabetes. However, sixty percent of overweight
children 5-10 years of age have one or more risk factors. While such
data concerns researchers, it should also be alarming to America's
school administrators. Research clearly indicates that children who
lack in exercise and proper nutrition also contribute to greater
absenteeism, truancy, behavioral problems, poor academics, and lower
standardized test scores.
Policymakers need to address
this serious issue with adequate funding for schools so that health and
physical education instruction are not placed on the "chopping block"
when funds are limited. The irony of this situation is that our nation
spends an estimated $120 billion annually on health related problems.
Since our children are a large bulk of this expenditure, it seems clear
that a wiser investment would be to educate them on the value of
exercise and nutrition as a lifelong commitment. Unfortunately, this
has not been the case thus far, so Tony Iaquinto and Susan Beauchamp
have taken the “bull by the horns” with the "Commit-to-be-Fit-Kids"
program now in its sixth year. and has tremendous support
from its faculty and parent groups!
As a result of the
program’s success, Mr. Iaquinto and Mrs. Beauchamp have created a
company called Commit to be Fit-Kids, Inc. Currently, they are a
non-profit organization and their motto is "Teaching Children
Today To Be Healthy Tomorrow!"
Bio of Tony V. Iaquinto Tony
V. Iaquinto is a nationally recognized fitness and weight management
consultant who began his fitness career in 1978. That same year he
started training to become a tri-athlete while he worked part time in a
gym. In 1981 he began working full time at Palm-Aire an exclusive spa,
pampering and immersing Hollywood stars in boot camp personal training
to help them prepare for their next roles. He eventually met a Crown
Prince who requested that Iaquinto become his personal trainer.
Iaquinto accepted the job and helped the prince lose one hundred pounds
in six months! In 1984 Iaquinto started his own company called Personal
Fitness, Inc. He has also been the fitness director for numerous health
clubs, co-owner of a gym, and was the 1985 Mr. Hollywood for his body
building skills.
As President of Commit to be Fit, Inc. from
1999 throught 2004, was a fitness-consulting firm based in Jacksonville
Florida, Iaquinto provided medical diagnostic testing of body fat,
healthy lifestyle counseling, comprehensive weight management programs,
personal training, corporate wellness, and lectures on health and
fitness. He also offered these services through local health food
stores, health clubs, exercise equipment stores, doctors' offices and
companies with wellness programs. Working with corporations to increase
awareness of fitness, hydration and nutrition, Iaquinto presented
two-hour seminars educating and motivating executives towards a
"healthier lifestyle!"
Utilizing twenty-nine years of experience
in teaching people how to live healthier, Iaquinto's objective today is
to encourage administrators to implement the Commit to Be Fit-Kids
program in their curriculum. With declining budgets and growing
accountability, educators need to focus on positive outlets for their
students. Since one portion of the program is the CTBF "Kids
Challenge," students can be challenged to raise their fitness levels
and nutritional awareness, which is an excellent way to ensure the
health and physical well-being of the children in our schools!
A
large part of Mr. Iaquinto's dedication to fitness is his own history
of overcoming childhood obesity. He wants to help others who struggle
with being fit. Concerned about the frightening statistics—60 percent
of adults and 33 percent of children in America are overweight—Iaquinto
will do what it takes to lead people to healthy living. "I give people
the whole truth and tell them it's going to be the hardest thing
they've ever done. You can't buy your health; you must earn it! But, if
you work to change to living a healthy lifestyle, you'll see that it's
worth the challenge." –Tony Iaquinto
Currently, Mr. Iaquinto is a management consultant for (GNC) General Nutrition Center and the Program Director for www.committobefitforlife.com. In addition, he has served on several committees and participates in many valuable organizations, including: - Mayor's Council on Fitness and Well-being.
- The Duval County Health Department Coalition on Childhood Obesity Prevention and Physical Activity and Fitness.
- Task Force Resource Volunteer to The Jacksonville City Council Education Task Force 2002-2003.
- Expo Chairman of the Bank Of America Bike Jacksonville event 2003.
The
goal of Commit to be Fit-Kids, Inc. is to educate, motivate and
demonstrate the need for physical fitness and proper nutrition for
every child in America!
"I'm just one guy trying to make a
difference. Remember, if you don't take care of your health, no one
else will!"—Tony Iaquinto.
back to top Bio of Susan M. Beauchamp
Susan
Beauchamp is currently the school counselor at Twin Lakes Academy
Elementary, a National Model School in the Duval County Public School
System. She is beginning her fifth year at Twin Lakes, after being
the counselor at Seabreeze Elementary for five years. Prior to moving
to Jacksonville, Susan was a fifth grade teacher at Forest City
Elementary in Seminole County Public Schools.
Having been a
professional educator for over thirty years, Susan has served in the
positions of classroom teacher, counselor, administrator, Bi-Lingual
Resource teacher, and coordinator for "at-risk" student programs. Her
educational profile includes living and working in Florida, Georgia,
Tennessee, Illinois, Michigan, and California. This experience in
different areas of the country has enabled her to deal more effectively
with culturally diverse student populations.
Ms. Beauchamp
enjoys working with both students and adults, and is passionate about
health education and the cultural arts being taught in our public
schools. Susan’s sister, Jean Harris, an LPGA Master Teaching Pro, and
husband, Sam Beauchamp, a former USPTA Teaching Pro, have heavily
influenced her approach to children with academic and attention
difficulties. All three fervently believe in the philosophy that a
"strong and healthy body" contributes to a "sound mind and greater
academic potential!" As a teacher in Evanston, Illinois, Susan directed
musical productions with elementary students, and was the football and
basketball statistician for two highly ranked athletic programs; as a
counselor in California she worked and traveled to University campuses
exposing "at-risk" middle schoolers to higher education opportunities;
at Seabreeze Elementary, she coordinated the "Success" after-school
tutorial program for "lower quartile" students, wrote grants for
additional tutors, Safari Sleepovers at the Jacksonville Zoo, and was
chosen Teacher of the Year, 2000 by her peers. For the past nine
years, Susan has served as test coordinator, playing a vital role in
consecutive school grades of "A." Last Spring, Ms Beauchamp
directed the musical " Twelve Dancing Princess "with fourth and fifth
grade students.
Several years ago, Susan was interviewed by
noted sports writer, Frank DeFord, in a segment on HBO Real Sports
regarding obesity in today's youth. The interview was marked by candid
statements regarding the gradual erosion of physical education in
today’s schools. To help remedy the problem, Susan partnered with
fitness consultant, Tony Iaquinto, and began addressing the lack of
physical/nutritional fitness instruction through classroom guidance and
Tony's health presentations. As a result, "Commit-to-be-Fit-Kids"
emerged with positive results and is still "going strong!" With minimal
funding, the "Kids" program, now in its sixth year, has
established non-profit status, and welcomes corporate funding and
donations for expansion of the program!
A native of Hollywood,
Florida, Susan received a BS degree in Elementary Education from the
University of Tennessee in Knoxville, and an M. Ed. in Guidance and
Counseling at Loyola University of Chicago. Susan has continued her
professional growth through continuing education and graduate courses
from the University of Miami, Harvard University, University of Central
Florida, National-Louis University, Eastern Michigan University,
National College of Education, University of California, Santa Cruz,
San Jose’ State University, California State University, Long Beach,
and the University of Phoenix.
Susan and her husband Sam, have
two daughters, Lori and Lisa, son-in-law, Josh, two grandsons, Brannen
and Jaden, and golden retriever, Brady.
back to top Statement of Philosophy
The
healthy lifestyle counseling program offered by Commit to be Fit-Kids
Inc. is founded upon the principle of enhancing life through the proper
education of fitness and nutrition skills. Commit to be Fit-Kids, Inc.
is dedicated to helping children live life to the fullest; to being a
participant rather than a spectator; and to maintaining enthusiasm for
each and every day. By educating, motivating and demonstrating the
needs for physical fitness and proper nutrition, our children will gain
a greater appreciation for good health and nutrition while adding many
productive years to their lives!
"It is our fondest wish that
each child share the uncommon and intangible experience of living life
to its optimum level! It is our goal to educate children on the
importance of leading a healthy lifestyle." -
Tony V. Iaquinto, President, and Susan Beauchamp, Vice President of Commit to be Fit-Kids, Inc.
The
Duval County School Health Advisory Council has unanimously approved
The "Commit-to-be-Fit Kids" program to be promoted in all Duval County
elementary schools. Commit to be Fit-Kids, Inc. is now seeking
donations to fund it.
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