INDIANAPOLIS — As soon as she heard about the new national effort to combat childhood obesity, Connie Gardner assembled a packet describing Project 18 and called her state representative in hopes of getting it to first lady Michelle Obama.
“We would like the first lady to know that we are doing something about childhood obesity right here in Indiana,” said Gardner, Marsh Supermarkets’ senior director of community relations.
The 92-store retailer has teamed with Peyton Manning, quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts football team, The Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent, and Ball State University on Project 18, a campaign covering diet, exercise and education in Marsh stores, public schools and at home.
In all Marsh stores, Project 18 shelf tags are placed on more than 600 items that meet certain nutritional criteria.
Gardner was motivated to reach out to the White House after Michelle Obama’s Feb. 9 announcement of the “Let's Move” campaign, which will focus on what families, communities and the public and private sectors can do to help fight childhood obesity.
The same day Let’s Move was introduced, President Obama signed a memorandum establishing a federal task force to tackle childhood obesity.
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