Childhood obesity has become one of our nation’s leading health concerns, creating potential long-term medical issues such as diabetes, asthma and chronic heart disease. Proceeds from this year’s Halloween Bash will help to establish a new Childhood Obesity Program at Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital. The hospital will address this epidemic—that is affecting children in our own community through a partnership with the ProActive Kids Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to introduce healthier lifestyle options to overweight children and their families.

The ProActive Kids’ Foundation educates children and their families on sustainable ways to improve their health through weekly physical exercises, lessons, assignments and discussions over an eight-week course. This innovative and personal life-changing experience is offered FREE to children who are considered obese or at risk. This is a comprehensive, all-inclusive program to treat the whole child—physically, nutritionally and emotionally—built around the stability and commitment of family.

Proceeds from the 2012 Halloween Bash will enable us to offer this important program, which relies on philanthropic support. Funds raised will also be used to hire a nutritionist and a behavioral specialist, as well as to provide healthy food for children in the program.