Capital Health Plan Celebrates 20 Years of the CHP CHAMPIONS

Capital Health Plan (CHP), the Big Bend's trusted health care partner, today proudly marked the 20th anniversary of its CHAMPIONS

Student Fitness Program with a celebration at Gilchrist Elementary School, where the program began. The CHP CHAMPIONS

Student Fitness Program is a local initiative dedicated to promoting community health and reducing childhood obesity through school-based fitness activities.

The program was the focus of a news conference featuring Mayor John Dailey, CHP President and CEO Sabin Bass, Titus Sports Academy CEO Adam Faurot, Leon County School Board Member Laurie Cox, President & CEO Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce/World Class Schools Sue Dick, CHP Family Medicine Physician Dr. Amy Neal, Rocky Hanna, Leon County Superintendent of Schools, and Gilchrist Elementary Principal Scotty Crowe.

Since 2004, the CHP CHAMPIONS Student Fitness Program has benefited over 20,000 students a year and over 120,000 unique students in six counties. The program's curriculum enhances gross motor skills, flexibility, posture, balance, and coordination, fostering long-term physical development and a healthier future for our community's youth.

"In the 2022-23 school year alone, the CHP CHAMPIONS Student Fitness Program reached a record 20,400 students," said Sabin Bass, President and CEO of Capital Health Plan. "Reaching the 20-year milestone is a testament to our commitment to improving children's health and fitness, and we look forward to many more years of enhancing the lives and well-being of children throughout the community."

Key milestones of the CHP CHAMPIONS Student Fitness Program through the years include:
2004-05: Launch of the pilot CHP CHAMPIONS Student Fitness Program in partnership with Leon County School District and Titus Sports Academy.
2008: Expansion of the program into Gadsden, Calhoun, Jefferson, and Wakulla counties, reaching 1,800 students in 29 schools.
2012-2013: The program becomes one of the largest physical activity programs globally.
2019: Participation reaches approximately 20,000 students annually across six counties in Northwest Florida, totaling over 120,000 students since inception.
2020: Development of a Virtual CHP CHAMPIONS Student Fitness Program due to the COVID-19 pandemic, providing 39 weeks of programming.
2021: Transition back to in-person sessions in Leon County Schools, with the virtual platform supporting rural areas.
2022: Program impacts 120,000 students across 45 schools with a decrease in obesity rates and improvement in average BMI.
2023: Full return of the program to all schools in Leon County, adding 3,000 new students and expanding to a new middle school in a rural county.
2024-2025: Planned expansion of the program into remote counties, extending its reach and impact further.

"Today's celebration marks an incredible journey of two decades dedicated to improving the health and fitness of our youth," said CHAMPIONS CEO Adam Faurot, who is also CEO of Titus Sports Academy. "The success of the CHP CHAMPIONS Student Fitness Program is a community effort, and we are so grateful for the continued support."

Since 1982, CHP has been dedicated to offering affordable and comprehensive health care to the Big Bend region. Today, it serves over 135,000 members, providing a robust network of physicians and exclusive health centers that deliver preventive, primary, and specialty care services.
Please find event photos attached below. To learn more about CHP CHAMPIONS Student Fitness Program, visit https://mychampions.com/impact/.

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Capital Health Plan (CHP) is committed to offering affordable, comprehensive health care to its members. In its 40th year, CHP has grown to serve over 135,000 members in the Florida Panhandle and has an extensive physician network that includes three exclusive CHP health centers providing preventive, primary, and specialty care services. Based in Tallahassee, FL, it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.capitalhealth.com.

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