Miami Heat’s Tim Hardaway to Launch Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade’s “100 for 100 Challenge”
(MIAMI, June 10, 2013) – University of Miami Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Amy
Deem, who led Team USA track and field at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, as well as
men’s and women’s track athletes from the University of Miami, and Olympic hurdler Bershawn
Jackson will lead hundreds of children from Miami-Dade Parks’ Fit2Play Summer Camps to
kick-off the 2013 Morning Mile on Wednesday, June 12, 2013, beginning at 10:00 a.m., at
Goulds Park, 11350 SW 216th Street in Miami.
The Morning Mile, developed by Fitzness International and sponsored by AvMed Health Plans,
is being expanded to all of Miami-Dade Parks’ 42 Fit2Play Summer Camps. Children begin
their day with a morning run, jog or walk. For every five miles, they receive collectible necklace
charms. Last year, campers logged over 26,000 miles.
To further incentivize healthy and active living among children, the Parks Foundation of Miami-
Dade, with the help of the Miami Heat’s Tim Hardaway, will launch the “100 for 100 Challenge.”
For every child who runs 100 miles over the course of the summer as part of the Morning Mile
program, $100 will be donated by local corporations to the Parks Foundation’s Fit2Play
Scholarship Fund, and matched 100-percent. The Fit2Play Scholarship Fund provides
disadvantaged children scholarships to attend Miami-Dade Parks’ after-school and summer
camp programs at no cost.
“It’s my hope that businesses in Miami-Dade will follow in the footsteps of AvMed Health Plans
and support our community’s kids,” said Dick Anderson, President of the Parks Foundation of
Miami-Dade and former Miami Dolphins Safety. “The ‘100 for 100 Challenge’ is a great
motivator for children and corporations alike.”
“We are extremely proud to partner with Miami-Dade County and Fitzness International to
sponsor a third year of the Morning Mile,” said James M. Repp, AvMed Senior Vice President.
“With the addition of the University of Miami’s Olympians it’s sure to inspire each of us to stay
active and engaged in healthy activities.”
“We are excited to participate in such a worthwhile event,” said Amy Deem, University of Miami
Director of Track and Field & Cross County. “Health and fitness is so important for our young
people and this event will give them an opportunity to interact with athletes who excel in a
healthy lifestyle.”
“The Morning Mile program has been a tremendous addition to our summer camp curriculum.
We’re grateful to AvMed Health Plans, Fitzness International, the University of Miami’s track and
field teams, and Olympian Bershawn Jackson for their continued commitment to the health of
our community,” said Jack Kardys, Director of Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open
Spaces.
WHAT: Olympians and Athletes Kick-Off Morning Mile presented by AvMed Health
Plans, plus “100 for 100 Challenge” Launch
WHEN: Wednesday, June 12, 2013 beginning at 10:00 a.m.
WHERE: Goulds Park
11350 SW 216th Street
Miami
WHO: Amy Deem, University of Miami Director of Track and Field & Cross Country and
Team USA Track & Field Coach
Student-Athletes from University of Miami’s men and women’s track teams
Olympic Hurdler Bershawn Jackson
Tim Hardaway, Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade
Pat Nelson, Regional Head of Strategic Accounts, AvMed Health Plans
Morning Mile Founder, Fitz Koehler
About AvMed Health Plans:
AvMed has been providing health care coverage to Florida citizens and businesses for over 40
years, serving large and small employers in most major markets around the state. AvMed
provides Medicare Advantage products in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, and individual
coverage in Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. For more information about
AvMed, visit www.avmed.org.
About Morning Mile:
Created by Fitzness International, the Morning Mile program provides participating schools or
parks with a program guidebook and everything needed to bring the exercise program to their
students. The program has been so successful with nearly 150 programs in Florida, Texas,
California, Louisiana, Canada and on a US Air Force Base near Tokyo, Japan, that venues
around the United States and beyond have applied to participate so they can implement the
program as well. A grant from AvMed provided the funding for the Morning Mile starter kits,
which give parks the instructions and materials to start the program. To learn more about
launching or sponsoring the program, visit www.MorningMile.com.
About The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade:
The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-
Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s efforts to further develop
Miami-Dade County’s world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to
create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the
implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park
and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities. For more
information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.miamidade.gov/parks_foundation.
About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award, winner of
the 2013 Florida Governor’s Sustained Excellence Award and the 2009 Florida Governor’s
Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the
third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres
of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more
than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development,
and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational
nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture
programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon
Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools;
and more. For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit
www.miamidade.gov/parks/.
