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August 2005

Health Jam - Edutainment for Children

By Leslie Rice Hart

Health Jam, Inc.’s mission is to use edutainment to arm children and families with the facts they need to make sensible lifestyle choices. The nationwide nonprofit organization’s work has been responsible for helping young people increase their self-esteem and encouraging them to take responsibility for their life, health, and wellness. The organization promotes the development of healthy lifestyle choices by providing underserved youth and families with a clever blend of education and entertainment. The youth learn ways to avoid and cope with HIV and sexually transmitted infections, obesity, unplanned pregnancies, negative peer pressure, drugs, alcohol, and relationship abuse.

Health Jam often collaborates with high-profile recording artists, actors, sports figures, radio personalities, community leaders, corporate executives, teachers, principals, and trained health guest speakers to develop programs that educate the youth and enable them to attend performances that might otherwise be out of their economic reach. Established in 1995, it has educated more than 250,000 adolescents in more than 150 middle schools, high schools, private and public venues throughout New York, New Jersey and Illinois, and even internationally, in Zambia and South Africa. This success has only been achieved through the commitment of the full and part-time volunteer staff, as well as the generous services and financial support from individuals and corporations.

To learn more about Health Jam, Inc.’s ongoing vision of heightening health awareness among at-risk youth and families in North America, the Caribbean, and Africa, visit their website at www.healthjam.com.