Dallas, Texas—The Dallas Cowboys and partner GlaxoSmithKline put former defensive end and five-time Super Bowl champ Charles Haley to work Tuesday painting the fifth Dallas Cowboys Play 60 Fitness Zone in the DFW Metroplex.
Haley joined kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Dallas afterschool program at Williams Preparatory in painting the space. The Play 60 Fitness Zone is part of the National Football League's celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month and is being constructed at Williams Preparatory for use by the school and the Boys and Girls Club program. (William Preparatory's enrollment is 95% Hispanic.)
Also in attendance was Cowboys mascot "Rowdy," doing his share to prep the Play 60 Fitness Zone for its anticipated grand opening on October 9.
The Dallas Cowboys Play 60 Fitness Zones are underwritten by Gene and Jerry Jones Family Charities and GlaxoSmithKline in an effort to give youth a new place to be active while tackling childhood obesity. The spaces include equipment specifically made for adolescent users and interactive gaming systems geared at motivating kids to get up and moving.
Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled in the last three decades in the United States. Among Texas children ages 6-18, more than 25% are considered overweight or obese. Through the Play 60 program, the NFL and Dallas Cowboys are committed to making the next generation of youth the most active and healthy.
The project brings together the NFL's long-standing commitment to health and fitness with an impressive roster of partner organizations – like GSK and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas. Other partners on the build include Southern Painting, Sherwin-Williams, Kinect for Xbox 360, Strive Fitness and more.
