Last week the United States Conference of Mayors and the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America selected Everett, Mass., Mayor Carlo DeMaria Jr. as the first place winner in the small city category of the 2016 Childhood Obesity Prevention Awards. Mayor DeMaria won the award for his innovative “Healthy Me” program.

The “Healthy Me” program is a multi-pronged initiative targeting Everett children and teenagers aged 8-14. In partnership with Malden YMCA's Youth Enrichment Center, the city will expand existing programming that teaches balanced eating and drinking habits and physical activity. These activities will directly reach more than 500 students and will indirectly impact thousands of their peers, siblings and parents.

Debbie Amaral, CEO of Malden YMCA, praised the grant saying, “We know that there is not one problem we can take on solely by ourselves…To have a partner like the city of Everett, the community Health & Wellness center and now this grant, it truly shows the power of collaboration and what we can do when everyone works together.”

To learn more about Everett’s “Healthy Me” program and the other Childhood Obesity Prevention Award recipients, click here.