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Brochures
Available for the Mature Fitness
Awards USA — the Nation's Only
Fitness Recognition
Program for Older Adults
Mature Fitness
Awards USAsm program brochures are available for
distribution to interested older adults and to professionals who work
with older adults in health promotion, exercise, and fitness/wellness
programs. This unique awards program, first introduced in late 1997, is
the year-round component to National Senior Health & Fitness Day®,
the nation's largest senior health promotion event, which is always held
the last Wednesday in May during Older Americans Month.
According to Patricia Henze, national program manager, "National Senior
Health & Fitness Day involves more than 100,000 older adults participating
in healthy activities at more than 1,000 locations across the country
on the last Wednesday in May. But Senior Day is only celebrated one day
a year. We introduced the Mature Fitness Awards to provide physical activity
motivation for the other 364 days."
The Mature Fitness Awards USA program is specifically designed to motivate
older adults to improve their health through regular physical activity.
The program's goal is consistent with the impressive amount of recent
research on the importance of exercise for older adults. The landmark
U.S. Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health concluded
that, "Older adults can obtain significant health benefits with a moderate
amount of physical activity..."
Open to adults age 50 and over, the Mature Fitness Awards USA program
provides recognition for a variety of physical activities popular with
older adults. Participants use the annual program brochure to record their
fitness activities, and those who meet the program requirements receive
special recognition — including a colorful lapel pin and certificate.
Older adults can earn Mature Fitness Awards annually.
The Mature Fitness Awards USA program standards were developed based on
research from the U.S. Surgeon General's Report and with advice from experts
in the fields of exercise physiology and older adult fitness. The President's
Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and the American College of Sports
Medicine also provided assistance in the development of the fitness activity
standards.
Like National Senior Health & Fitness Day, the Mature Fitness Awards is
organized as a public/private partnership with national and state/regional
sponsors. Professionals working in older adult health promotion may receive
up to 10 free copies of the program brochure by writing to Mature Fitness
Awards USA, 1850 West Winchester Road, Suite 213, Libertyville, IL 60048-5355.
For requests of more than 10 brochures, there is a small charge of $.16
per brochure (plus shipping). Individuals may request a free copy of the
brochure by writing to the above address and enclosing a stamped, self-addressed
envelope.
The Mature Market Resource Centersm (MMRC), organizer
of both the Mature Fitness Awards and National Senior Health & Fitness
Day, is a national clearinghouse for information on America's fast-growing
older adult market. The MMRC also publishes several mature market reference
books, maintains a large database of senior program professionals, and
organizes the annual National Mature Media Awardssm.
One of the MMRC's latest programs is the National Association of Senior
Health Professionalssm (NASHP) a new member organization
for professionals who work with seniors in health promotion/wellness programs.
For more information about the Mature Fitness Awards USA, National Senior
Health & Fitness Day and the Mature Market Resource Center, please contact
Patricia Henze, at 847-816-8660. FAX: 847-816-8662. E-mail: info@fitnessday.com.
Or visit the Web site: www.fitnessday.com.
