The City of Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources Department received the Excellence in Youth Sports Award for its Eat to Compete program. This program works to encourage healthy habits among young athletes. The award, sponsored by BAND and Prime Hydration, recognizes work to create healthy communities.
Quintin Terry, the Athletic Program Manager, commented on the award's impact, stating that the program focuses on the community and providing a positive influence through a new idea for the City of Raleigh. According to the city's announcement, Terry also noted the program's growing reach.
The Excellence Award from the National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS) recognizes organizations that show new and excellent ideas in youth programs. Raleigh's program was noted for its detailed 3-part plan. This plan includes an educational playbook, teaching classes, and urban garden spaces where young people grow fruits and vegetables.
The educational playbook was given to 1,500 children and their families before the fall sports season. It gives young people nutritional knowledge to improve performance. In an official announcement, Terry observed that the children have been "really excited and engaged," wanting to learn skills for healthy eating. He saw the program's impact directly, noting that during a T-ball game, a team captain encouraged his teammates to get watermelon slices.
